US 7,351,226 B1 · Medical infusion pump

Abstract

An infusion pump for infusing solutions from IV bags, particularly large one liter bags, through tubing to patients includes housing that has a compartment to receive an IV bag in a solution-dispensing position. The bag rests over a bladder within the compartment, and the bladder is expanded by a pressurized fluid to apply a pushing force against the bag to force solution through the tubing at a prescribed pressure. The fluid for the bladder is pressurized by a pump controlled by a control circuit that includes a pressure sensor sensing pressure of the fluid in the bladder. A preferred form of the infusion pump includes a high-pressure gas cartridge in a parallel and redundant system for applying pressure in the bladder. The fluid pump for the bladder preferably is powered by batteries, and in the event battery power is lacking, the gas cartridge (which may be CO2), which is regulated down in pressure, can be used to supply the needed pressure (if a small auxiliary battery is included to operate valves and circuitry). Another feature is a universal solution bag spike/port adapter, with a “bag/spike present” switch that is operable when a bag with a port in any of a plurality of different positions is placed in the compartment, accommodating the bags of nearly all manufacturers. When a new solution bag is to be placed in the housing's compartment, an external vent port may be opened manually for quick venting of the bladder. In addition, the unit preferably includes an exterior indicator of pressure level in the gas cartridge, for easy reference as to whether this redundant system is operable.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An infusion pump for delivering intravenous solution from a solution bag through tubing to a patient, the bag having at least one flexible wall and having a dispensing port for releasable connection with an end of the tubing, comprising:

a housing with a compartment for removably receiving and supporting the intravenous solution bag in a solution-dispensing position,
an expandable bladder mounted within the compartment and forming a part of the infusion pump, having a flexible wall which moves by expansion responsive to an increase in the pressure of a fluid within the bladder,
the bladder being positioned in the housing so as to apply a pushing force against the flexible wall of a solution bag when present, to collapse the solution bag responsive to expansion of the bladder wall to cause solution within the bag to be infused out through the dispensing port,
a sensor for sensing pressure in a solution bag when present,
an electric pump connected to pump fluid into the bladder to increase pressure in the bladder in response to an electrical signal indicating the need for increased pressure,
a gas cartridge containing high-pressure gas connected to the housing, with a pressure regulator connected to the gas cartridge to produce gas at greatly reduced pressure, said reduced-pressure gas being selectively connected to the bladder, and
control means connected to the sensor and effective to send said electrical signal to send fluid to the bladder to increase pressure in the bladder when the sensor indicates pressure in the bladder is below a desired pressure preselected in the control means.

4 more elements

a housing with a compartment for removably receiving and supporting the intravenous solution bag in a solution-dispensing position,
an expandable bladder within the compartment, having a flexible wall which moves by expansion responsive to an increase in the pressure of a fluid within the bladder,
the bladder being positioned in the housing so as to apply a pushing force against the flexible wall of a solution bag when present, to collapse the solution bag responsive to expansion of the bladder wall to cause solution within the bag to be infused out through the dispensing port,
a sensor for sensing pressure in a solution bag when present,
fluid pressure means for delivering fluid under pressure into the bladder to increase pressure in the bladder in response to a signal indicating the need for increased pressure,
control means connected to the sensor and effective to send said signal to send fluid to the bladder to increase pressure in the bladder when the sensor indicates pressure in the bladder is below a desired pressure preselected in the control means, and
a universal IV solution bag adapter in the housing, the adapter having multiple, laterally displaced port notches positioned to receive differently-configured IV solution bags having solution dispensing ports in different lateral positions and for cradling the combination of an IV dispensing spike engaged with an IV bag solution dispensing port in a position of correct installation of the IV bag in the housing, and including a bag/spike-in-place switch actuator engageable by an IV dispensing spike which may, when engaged with different IV solution bags and placed in the adapter, be in different dispensing port positions relative to the housing.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Medical infusion pump

Life of this patent

Medical infusion pump

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20