Pump startup algorithms and related systems and methods

• US 10,293,103 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2015
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Adams, Grant, Rossi, William, Drost, Jim, Wilkowske, Eric, Zalesky, Larry, Dowden, Taylor, Wander, Jacob, Kregel, Beth, Riley, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Farrar, Lauren P
• Application Number:
  US15/114,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20160346462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/22 of reciprocating-piston type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/02 Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

An infusion pump includes a pumping mechanism having at least one sensor and a pump motor and a pump control subsystem configured to control operation of the pumping mechanism, the pump control subsystem including a processor, a memory, and a startup module configured to drive the pump motor at a first rate, receive input from the at least one sensor, and drive the pump motor at a second rate based on the input received from the at least one sensor. Startup algorithms command an infusion pump to reach a targeted delivery rate or steady state in minimal time without requiring priming of the pump line or otherwise engaging in known methods of pump startup analysis.

Claims

1. An infusion pump configured to reach a steady state, target delivery rate with minimal delay, the infusion pump comprising:

a pumping mechanism including at least one sensor and a pump motor; and

a pump control subsystem configured to control operation of the pumping mechanism, the pump control subsystem including;

a processor,

a memory, and

a startup module configured to;

drive the pump motor at a steady state accelerated motor rate until a force is sensed by the at least one sensor,

drive the pump motor at a gradual, decreasing transitional rate according to a function of the force sensed by the at least one sensor, wherein the transitional rate is an inverse function of the force sensed by the at least one sensor,

determine when the force sensed by the at least one sensor reaches a magnitude required to overcome forces opposing medicament delivery, and

upon determining that the force sensed by the at least one sensor has reached a magnitude required to overcome forces opposing medicament delivery, drive the pump motor at a steady state rate.

2. The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the pumping mechanism comprises a piston-pumping system including a syringe driver.

3. The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the transitional rate is steady state, decreasing, stepped, curved, sinusoidal, or a combination thereof.

4. The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a force sensor utilizing a lever arm.

5. The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the startup module is further configured to derive at least one parameter based on the input received from the at least one sensor, wherein the pump motor is driven at the steady state rate based at least on the at least one derived parameter.

6. The infusion pump of claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor is a current sensor.

7. The infusion pump of claim 1, wherein the startup module is further configured to determine a boundary condition based on the input received from the at least one sensor.

8. The infusion pump of claim 7, wherein the boundary condition determines an inflection point of data derived from the input received from the at least one sensor.