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AssigneeDEKA Products Limited Partnership
InventorsR. Kurt Heinzmann, Richard Lanigan, Peter Lund, Dean L. Kamen, William T. Larkins, Robert Manning
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An intravenous-line flow-control system for receiving a disposable cassette disposed in the intravenous line. The system prevents the free flow of intravenous fluid through the cassette when the cassette is removed from the system. The system includes a control unit having a door or similar structure for holding the cassette against a receiving surface. The control unit includes a stepper motor and a transmission member for turning a rotatable control valve on the cassette in order to restrict variably the flow of fluid through the cassette. When the door is being opened but while the cassette is still held against the receiving surface, a motor-disengagement mechanism moves at least the transmission member, and preferably the stepper motor as well, from a first position, from which the control valve may be engaged by the transmission member, to a second position, in which the transmission member is disengaged from the control valve. Preferably, the motor-disengagement mechanism includes a button on the handle of a door-opening mechanism, and by pushing the button the transmission member and the stepper motor are moved to the second position. In addition, when the door is being opened but while the cassette is still held against the receiving surface, a shut-off mechanism engages the cassette's control valve and turns the control valve to its closed position. The control unit may use alternative power supplies and include links for communicating with other control units.
An intravenous-line flow-control system for receiving a disposable cassette disposed in the intravenous line and preventing the free flow of intravenous fluid through the cassette as the cassette is removed from the system, the system comprising:
A method for controlling flow through an intravenous-line having a cassette disposed therein, and preventing the free flow of intravenous fluid through the cassette as the cassette is removed from a control unit, the method comprising the steps of:
A system for controlling flow through an intravenous-line, and preventing the free flow of intravenous fluid through the line cassette as the line is removed from the system, the system comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.