Integrated medication delivery system

• US 20040034331A1
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Toman, Jason, Staunton, Doug
• Application Number:
  US10/461,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20040034331A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/16 having provision for disinfection or sterilisation A61M39/143 takes precedence; methods or apparatus for disinfection or sterilisation A61L2/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1684 by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28

Abstract

A medication delivery system includes a reservoir for storing a supply of medication and a pump assembly coupled to the reservoir. The pump assembly has a pump inlet and a pump outlet and is controllable to provide a flow of medication in the form of a series of pulses. The pump outlet is subdivided into a plurality of legs. A controller is coupled to the pump assembly for controlling the pump assembly and receives a desired flow of medication and responsively controls the pump assembly to provide a series of pulses of medication to provide the desired flow of medication. The series of pulses are determined to provide an outlet pressure at the pump outlet adapted to reduce an effect of any differential pressure between the legs.

Claims

1. A medication delivery system, comprising:

a reservoir for storing a supply of medication;

a pump assembly being coupled to the reservoir and having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, the pump assembly being controllable to provide a flow of medication in the form of a series of pulses, the pump outlet being subdivided into a plurality of legs; and

,

a controller coupled to the pump assembly for controlling the pump assembly, the controller receiving a desired flow of medication and responsively controlling the pump assembly to provide a series of pulses of medication to provide the desired flow of medication, wherein the series of pulses are determined to provide an outlet pressure at the pump outlet adapted to reduce an effect of any differential pressure between the legs.

2. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the controller determines a period of time between a start of each pulse, wherein the period of time is determined such that each pulse begins before a predetermined drop in fluid pressure level occurs.

3. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the series of pulses includes first and second groups of pulses, a start of each pulse within each group being separated by a first period of time and a start of the first pulse in each group being separated by a second period of time.

4. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein each group has a predetermined number of pulses.

5. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the controller determines the second period as a function of the desired fluid flow.

6. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pump assembly includes:

a motor;

a cam shaft coupled to the motor; and

,

first and second pinch levers in engagement with the cam shaft.

7. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein each of the first and second pinch levers comprise a cam follower, said cam followers being engaged by said cam shaft for alternating movement of said first and second pinch levers between said open and closed positions such that the medication can be delivered to the patient.

8. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the pump assembly further includes a piston, the motor moving the piston to draw the medication into the pump assembly when the first pinch lever is in the open position and the second pinch lever is in the closed position, and to displace the medication from the pump assembly when the first pinch lever is in the closed position and said second pinch lever is in the open position.

9. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a multiple site infusion apparatus coupled between the pump outlet and the legs.

10. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the multiple site infusion apparatus includes:

a valve housing having a first end and a second end, the first end including first and second outlet orifices; and

,

a flexible diaphragm coupled between the cap and the valve housing and being movable from a closed position to and open position, the flexible diaphragm sealing the pressure chamber from the first and second outlet passageways when in the closed position and opening the first and second passageways to the pressure chamber when in the open position, the second end of the valve housing and the flexible diaphragm forming a pressure chamber, the valve housing further including an inlet passageway coupled to the pressure chamber and at least one outlet passageway coupled to the pressure chamber.

11. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 10, further including a cap having a closed end and an open end and being coupled to the valve housing at the open end.

12. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the outlet passageways of the multiple site infusion apparatus contain restrictive orifices.

13. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a valve system coupled to the pump outlet for providing flow restriction and anti-siphoning characteristics.

14. A medication delivery system, as set forth in claim 13, the valve system including a divider for dividing the flow of medication into each leg and a check valve in each leg.

15. A mediciation delivery system, as set forth in claim 13, wherein the valve system includes a divider for dividing the flow of medication into each leg and a flow restrictor in each leg.

17. A method, as set forth in claim 13, including the step of determining a period of time between a start of each pulse, wherein the period of time is determined such that each pulse begins before a predetermined drop in fluid pressure level occurs.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the series of pulses is subdivided into groups of pulses, a start of each pulse within each group being separated by a first period of time and a start of the first pulse in each group being separated by a second period of time.

19. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein the second period of time is determined as a function of the desired fluid flow.

16. A method for delivering medication using a medication delivery system, including the steps of:

storing a supply of medication;

receiving a desired flow rate of medication; and

,

providing a flow of medication from the supply of medication in the form of a series of pulses, the flow being provided through an outlet and subdivided into a plurality of legs, wherein the series of pulses are determined to provide an outlet pressure at the pump outlet adapted to reduce an effect of any differential pressure between the legs.