Method and apparatus for controlling infusion volume

An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of infusion fluid through an infusion pump, the infusion pump receiving infusion fluid from a drip chamber having a fluid-flow rate, the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump being set to substantially match the fluid-flow rate of the drip chamber, the apparatus comprising:

• a motion sensor that detects drip-chamber movement and generates a motion-detection signal indicating the motion state of the drip-chamber;
• and
• a controller coupled to receive the motion-detection signal from the motion sensor;
• wherein, if drip-chamber movement is detected, the controller maintains the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump as set immediately prior to the detection of drip-chamber movement.

An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of infusion fluid through an infusion pump, the infusion pump receiving infusion fluid from a drip chamber, the apparatus comprising:

• a flow sensor for detecting drops of infusion fluid that enter the drip chamber and generating a drop-detection signal that indicates each drop detected;
• a setting controller coupled to receive the drop-detection signals from the flow sensor;
• wherein the setting controller counts the detected drops, and determines the fluid-flow rate of infusion fluid into the drip chamber, and sets the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump to substantially match the fluid-flow rate of the drip chamber;
• a motion sensor that detects drip-chamber movement and generates a motion-detection signal that indicates the motion state of the drip-chamber;
• a maintaining controller coupled to receive the motion-detection signal from the motion sensor;
• and
• wherein the maintaining controller stores a signal that indicates a stationary drip chamber and compares the motion-detection signal to the stored signal to determine if drip chamber movement has occurred, and, if drip-chamber movement has occurred, maintains the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump as set immediately prior to the detection of drip-chamber movement.

An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of infusion fluid through an infusion pump, the infusion pump receiving infusion fluid from a drip chamber, the apparatus comprising:

• a flow sensor for detecting drops of infusion fluid that enter the drip chamber and generating a drop-detection signal that indicates each drop detected;
• a motion sensor that detects drip-chamber movement and generates a motion-detection signal that indicates the motion state of the drip-chamber;
• a controller coupled to receive the drop-detection signals from the flow sensor and the motion-detection signal from the motion sensor;
• wherein the controller counts the detected drops, and determines the fluid-flow rate of infusion fluid into the drip chamber, and sets the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump to substantially match the fluid-flow rate of the drip chamber;
• and
• wherein the controller stores a signal that indicates a stationary drip chamber and compares the motion-detection signal to the stored signal to determine if drip chamber movement has occurred, and, if drip-chamber movement has occurred, maintains the fluid-flow rate of the infusion pump as set immediately prior to the detection of drip-chamber movement.