Safety interlock system for an enteral feeding pump

• US 20060004327A1
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Ireland Unlimited Company (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Sisk, Ricky A., Hudson, Joseph A., Fournie, Glenn G., Price, Jeffrey, Naumann, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,537,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/27 preventing use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/702 automatically during use
• 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 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066

Abstract

A safety interlock system for a flow control apparatus is disclosed that permits operation when a magnet-less administration feeding set is properly mounted to recess formed along the housing of the flow control apparatus. The administration feeding set comprises flexible patient tubing having a support member at one end and a mounting member including a magnetically-susceptible metallic component at the other end thereof. A sensing arrangement is provided by the flow control apparatus for sensing the proper engagement of the metallic component to the recess of the flow control apparatus. A control means permits operation of the flow control apparatus when the metallic member is properly engaged to recess, while terminating operation when the metallic member is improperly engaged to recess.

Claims

1. An enteral feeding system (10) comprising

an administration feeding set (14) forming a conduit (23) adapted for fluid flow communication therethrough, the administration feeding set including a component (21), and

a flow control apparatus (12) operatively associated with said administration feeding set (14) for establishing fluid flow through said conduit (23), said flow control apparatus (12) further including a sensor arrangement (33), said sensor arrangement (33) generating a magnetic flux for sensing the presence of said component (21) properly received on the flow control apparatus (12), wherein said component (21) changes the magnetic flux and said change in magnetic flux is detectable by said sensor arrangement (33) when said administration feeding set (14) is properly engaged to said flow control apparatus (12).

2. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said flow control apparatus (12) further includes a recess (29) for receiving the component (21).

3. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 2 wherein said sensing arrangement detects the presence of the component (21) only when the component (21) is properly seated within the recess (29).

4. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 3, wherein said administration feeding set (14) further includes a mounting member (30) for mounting said component (21) in said recess (29).

5. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement (33) comprises a magnet (36) operatively associated with a sensor (34).

6. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 5, wherein magnetic flux lines present between said magnet (36) and said component (21) change when said component (21) is properly received in said recess (29) which is sensed by said sensor (34).

7. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement (33) comprises a back-biased sensor (34) and magnet (36) wherein said sensor (34) senses the presence of said component (21) when said administration feeding set (14) is properly engaged to said flow control apparatus (12) by the change in magnetic flux lines between said magnet (34) and said component (21).

8. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement (33) comprises a resonant circuit (154) with a coil arrangement (156) which sense the presence of said component (21) when said administration feeding set (14) is properly engaged to said flow control apparatus (12) by a change in a resonant frequency produced by the resonant circuit (154).

9. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 8, wherein said resonant circuit (154) and said coil arrangement (156) comprise a capacitor (158) in parallel with an inductive coil (155) which are in series with a transistor (159) through a resistor (157).

10. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement (33) comprises a first inductive coil (212) in parallel with a second inductive coil (214) which sense the presence of said component (21) when said administration feeding set (14) is properly engaged to said flow control apparatus (12) by a change in resonant frequency produced by the first inductive coil (212) and the second inductive coil (214).

11. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement (33) comprises a first inductive coil (316) in series with a second inductive coil (318), said first and second inductive coils (316, 318) being in parallel with a third inductive coil (314) which collectively sense the presence of said component (21) when said administration feeding set (14) is properly engaged to said flow control apparatus (12).

12. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 11, wherein said third inductive coil (314) is operatively associated with an amplifier (322), said amplifier (322) including a voltage output that increases in the presence of said component (21).

13. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said sensor arrangement (33) is operatively associated with a microcontroller (40), said microcontroller (40) permitting operation of said flow control apparatus (12) when said administration feeding set (14) is properly engaged to said flow control apparatus (12) and prevents operation thereof when said administration feeding set (14) in improperly engaged to said flow control apparatus (12).

14. The enteral feeding system (10) according to claim 1, wherein said component (21) is made of a ferrous alloy.

15. An enteral feeding system (10) comprising:

an administration feeding set (14), said administration feeding set (14) forming a conduit (23) adapted for fluid flow therethrough, said administration feeding set (14) further including a component (21), and a flow control apparatus (12) operatively associated with said administration feeding set (14) for establishing fluid flow through said conduit (23), said flow control apparatus (12) further including a sensor arrangement (33) for sensing the proper engagement of said component (21) to said flow control apparatus (12) by detecting a change in magnetic flux caused by the presence of the component (21) adjacent to the sensing arrangement (33).

16. An administration feeding set (14) for use in a flow control apparatus (12) including a sensing arrangement (33) capable of generating a magnetic flux for sensing the proper engagement of the administration feeding set (14) with the flow control apparatus (12), the administration feeding (14) set comprising a conduit (23) adapted for fluid flow communication therethrough, and a component (21) mounted with the conduit (23) is capable of affecting the magnetic flux of the sensing arrangement (33) when said component (21) is properly mounted on the flow control apparatus (12) to allow the flow control apparatus (12) to operate.

17. An administrative feeding set as set forth in claim 16 wherein the component (21) is made of a ferrous alloy.