Infusion device with disposable elements
AssigneePatient Solutions, Inc.
InventorDavid L. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An infusion device with a disposable administration set which is inexpensive to manufacture. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the disposable administration set has a plurality of elongated cam followers connected to a plate assembly, wherein the cam followers are displaced in a predetermined sequence and forced against a delivery tube by cam means driven by rotary drive means. The disposable administration set is injection molded as a single integral piece. The disposable administration set includes adjustment spacers disposed between the plate assembly and the cam followers which adjust the distance between them to keep the device accurate. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the cam means are configured to provide fluid delivery at a consistent and uniform rate.
Claims40
A replacement administration set for a pumping mechanism having an actuator cam, comprising:
- a sterile package containing:
- at least one replacement follower and a delivery tube disposed adjacent said follower, said follower configured to be positioned against said actuator cam to squeeze a portion of said delivery tube.
A sterile method of pumping fluid, comprising;
- providing a plurality of sterile administration sets each having at least one follower and a delivery tube disposed adjacent said follower;
- installing in succession said sterile administration sets within a single pumping mechanism having an actuator cam to contact said follower to force said follower to squeeze a portion of said delivery tube;
- and
- discarding said administration sets after each is used.
A method of sensing occlusion in a tube which conducts fluid from a pump, comprising:
- operating said pump to pump fluid through said tube at a normal pressure level:
- measuring the current required to operate said pump at said normal pressure level, and recording said current as a variable function of angular positions of said pump;
- and
- comparing the current required to operate said pump at an unknown pressure with said recorded current, as a function of the variable angular positions of said pump, to monitor unexpectedly high current.
A method of replacing a delivery tube in an administration set for a fluid pump having an actuator cam, comprising:
- providing at least one replacement cam follower with each delivery tube;
- and
- positioning said delivery tube and said replacement follower so that said actuator cam contacts said follower to force said follower to squeeze a portion of said delivery tube.
A device for pumping fluid, comprising:
- A) a disposable administration set, comprising:
- 1) at least one follower;
- and
- 2) a gap correction spacer formed integrally with said follower;
- B) a delivery tube disposed adjacent said follower;
- and
- C) a pumping mechanism comprising
- 1) an actuator adjacent said follower, said actuator contacting said follower to force said follower to squeeze a portion of said delivery tube by an amount which is regulated by said gap correction spacer;
- D) a housing, comprising:
- 1) a channel;
- and
- 2) a spring, said spring forcing said disposable administration set against one side of said channel.
A method for detecting an operating condition in an infusion device resulting from a malfunction, comprising:
- empirically determining an expected force required to operate a pump for increments of one revolution for said operating condition;
- storing said expected force as a variable function of given angles of rotation;
- comparing an actual operating force with said stored expected force;
- and
- generating an indication in response to said comparison to indicate said operating condition to the user.
A method of adjusting the gap within a delivery tube of a pump, wherein the pump includes an actuator for pressing a follower against a portion of said tube to narrow said gap, said method comprising:
- forming a spacer integral with said follower, so that thickness variations of said follower will be matched by thickness variations of said spacer;
- and
- positioning said spacer such that a surface contacting said spacer positions said follower in said pump to separate a lower wall of said tube from said actuator.
A device for pumping fluid, comprising:
- A) a disposable administration set, comprising:
- 1) at least one follower;
- and
- 2) a gap correction spacer formed integrally with said follower;
- B) a delivery tube disposed adjacent said follower;
- and
- C) a pumping mechanism comprising:
- 1) a surface contacting said gap correction spacer to position said administration set;
- and
- 2) an actuator adjacent said follower, said actuator contacting said follower to force said follower to squeeze a portion of said delivery tube by an amount which is regulated by the thickness of said gap correction spacer.
A disposable administration set for use with a pump for dispensing fluid through a delivery tube, said pump including a surface for positioning said administration set, said disposable administration set comprising:
- a follower for pressing against a portion of said tube in response to operation of said pump, and
- an adjustment spacer for contacting said positioning surface of said pump to position said tube relative said pump, variations in the thickness of said follower being offset by variations in the thickness of said adjustment spacer, said adjustment spacer formed integral with said follower.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.