Liquid infusion apparatus
First Claim
1. Liquid infusion apparatus comprising a liquid conduit including a proximal segment, a distal segment and an intermediate segment therebetween, the intermediate segment including a flexible elastic tubular member of selected cross-sectional dimensions;
- a fluid connector in fluid communication with the proximal and intermediate segments; and
a flow valve in fluid communication with the intermediate and distal segments, and including a shuttle member slidably disposed within a housing about the intermediate segment for lateral movement relative to an elongated axis of the intermediate segment to operate in a first configuration impeding fluid flow through the intermediate segment, and in a second configuration for which fluid flow through the intermediate segment is unimpeded, the shuttle member including a resilient grasper for selectively engaging and disengaging a mating actuator resiliently received by the grasper.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Liquid infusion apparatus includes non-magnetic materials in a pumping structure and ultrasonic drive motor therefor, and in a controller that supplies drive signals to the motor to facilitate convenient operation in intense magnetic fields without distorting the magnetic fields and without radiating objectionable radio-frequency interference. A non-MRI-compatible liquid infusion apparatus is temporarily replaced with MRI-compatible, non-magnetic liquid infusion apparatus without disconnecting a patient from an installed intravenous infusion set to continue infusing liquid within the MRI environment. The pumping apparatus operates on a segment of a liquid conduit that is mounted in tension between a linear peristaltic pump and platen, with associated safety interlocks to assure proper operation of infusing liquid into a patient compatibly with conditions in an MRI environment. Drive circuitry generates low-harmonic signals for operating the ultrasonic motor at variable speeds to compensate for flow rate discontinuities through the peristaltic pumping cycles.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. Liquid infusion apparatus comprising
a liquid conduit including a proximal segment, a distal segment and an intermediate segment therebetween, the intermediate segment including a flexible elastic tubular member of selected cross-sectional dimensions; -
a fluid connector in fluid communication with the proximal and intermediate segments; and
a flow valve in fluid communication with the intermediate and distal segments, and including a shuttle member slidably disposed within a housing about the intermediate segment for lateral movement relative to an elongated axis of the intermediate segment to operate in a first configuration impeding fluid flow through the intermediate segment, and in a second configuration for which fluid flow through the intermediate segment is unimpeded, the shuttle member including a resilient grasper for selectively engaging and disengaging a mating actuator resiliently received by the grasper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for infusing liquid into a patient using a linear peristaltic pump and platen positionable about a liquid conduit including a tubular segment of flexible elastic material to transfer liquid from a source to the patient, the method comprising:
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linearly positioning the tubular segment for engagement with the peristaltic pump;
occluding liquid flow through the tubular segment in response to absence of operational engagement of the platen and tubular segment with the peristaltic pump;
positioning the platen in operative engagement against the tubular segment in alignment with the peristaltic pump; and
disabling occlusion of liquid flow through the tubular segment in response to operational engagement thereof with the platen to enable peristaltic pumping of liquid through the tubular segment. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Apparatus for operation with a liquid conduit including a flow controller, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing supporting linear peristaltic pumping apparatus therein;
an access door supported on the housing for movement between open and closed configurations and supporting therein an actuator disposed to operate the flow controller of a liquid conduit;
a platen supported on the access door in alignment with the peristaltic pumping apparatus for operatively engaging a liquid conduit therebetween in the closed configuration of the access door; and
mounts disposed in spaced relationship on the housing for supporting a liquid conduit in tension between the mounts in alignment with the peristaltic pumping apparatus and platen and with the flow controller of the liquid conduit aligned with the actuator for selectively precluding liquid flow through the liquid conduit in the open configuration of the access door, and for enabling liquid flow through the liquid conduit in the closed configuration of the access door. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. Drive circuitry for an ultrasonic motor, comprising:
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an oscillator for generating an output at frequency representative of an applied voltage;
a circuit connected to receive the output from the oscillator for producing recurring output pulses at spaced intervals on a plurality of output terminals;
a pair of air-core transformers, each having a secondary winding for connection to the ultrasonic motor, and having a pair of primary windings for conducting current therethrough in alternating relationship in response to output pulses from separate ones of pairs of the plurality of output terminals. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. Liquid pumping apparatus including a peristaltic pump operated by an ultrasonic motor coupled thereto, and including a controller for applying drive signals to the motor to modulate the operating speed of the motor during a pumping cycle to substantially linearize the volumetric flow of liquid through the pump per increment of the pumping cycle.
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38. A method of altering the liquid flow characteristics of a peristaltic pumping apparatus operated by ultra sonic motor, over a pumping cycle thereof including altering the operating speed thereof during a pumping cycle to substantially linearize volumetric flow of liquid through the pumping apparatus per unit increment of the pumping cycle.
Specification