Administration feeding set and flow control apparatus with secure loading features

• US 20070078431A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Ireland Unlimited Company (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Harr, James, Kimsey, Scott, Wiesner, Joel, Hudson, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,846,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6036 characterised by physical shape, e.g. array of activating switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence

Abstract

An administration feeding set for use with a flow control apparatus to deliver fluid from at least one fluid source to a patient. The feeding set includes tubing adapted to extend from the fluid source for flow of fluid through the tubing from the fluid source toward a patient. A locating finger projects outwardly from the tubing and is positioned on the tubing so that when received on the flow control apparatus in an operating position the finger permits a locating member of the flow control apparatus to close. However, when the tubing is received on the flow control apparatus in a non-operating position the finger does not permit the locating member to close thereby to verify whether the tubing is in the operating position on the flow control apparatus.

Claims

1. An administration feeding set for use with a flow control apparatus to deliver fluid from at least one fluid source to a patient, the administration feeding set comprising:

tubing adapted to extend from said at least one fluid source for flow of fluid through the tubing from said fluid source toward a patient;

a locating finger projecting outwardly from the tubing that is adapted to engage said flow control apparatus, the locating finger being positioned on the tubing so that when received on the flow control apparatus in an operating position the finger permits a locating member of the flow control apparatus to close, and when received on the flow control apparatus in a non-operating position the finger does not permit the locating member to close thereby to verify whether the tubing is in the operating position on the flow control apparatus.

2. An administration feeding set as set forth in claim 1 wherein the locating finger projects radially outwardly from the tubing.

3. An administration feeding set as set forth in claim 2 wherein the finger is elongate.

4. An administration feeding set as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a valve mechanism in fluid communication with the tubing for using in controlling flow of fluid in the tubing.

5. An administration feeding set as set forth in claim 4 wherein the finger and valve mechanism are located adjacent to each other for engagement with the flow control apparatus.

6. An administration feeding set as set forth in claim 5 wherein the finger and valve mechanism are positioned relative to each other so that upon engagement of the locating member of the flow control apparatus with the finger, the valve mechanism is forced by way of the finger and the tubing into the operating position on the flow control apparatus.

7. An administration feeding set as set forth in claim 5 wherein said valve mechanism is movable between at least two positions including an open position permitting fluid flow and a closed position preventing fluid flow.

8. An administration feeding set as set forth in claim 7 wherein said valve mechanism comprises a valve body having a periphery with an opening therein, and a rotatable valve stem in the body defining a channel which is aligned with the opening in the closed position.

9. An administration feeding set as set forth in claim 1 in combination with the flow control apparatus, the flow control apparatus comprising a housing shaped for receiving the tubing and locating finger, and the closure movable between an open position and a closed position.

10. An administration feeding set in combination with the flow control apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the locating member comprises a locating formation engageable with the finger when the closure is moved to the closed position, the locating formation being shaped for moving the finger into the operating position.

11. An administration feeding set in combination with the flow control apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein at least one of the finger and the locating formation comprises a generally wedge-shaped structure.

12. An administration feeding set in combination with the flow control apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the administration feeding set comprises a valve mechanism and the flow control apparatus closure comprises a door cooperable with the housing to substantially enclose the locating finger and valve mechanism in the closed position.

13. A flow control apparatus for use in delivering fluid to a patient through a fluid administration set, the flow control apparatus comprising:

a housing including a receiving portion shaped to receive at least a portion of the administration set in an operating position and at least one other non-operating position;

a pumping device engageable with the administration set for driving flow of fluid within the administration set;

a locating member movable relative to the housing between a first position in which the locating member is spaced farther away from the receiving portion of the housing and a second position in which the locating member is closer to the receiving portion of the housing, the locating member being shaped for engaging the administration set in the non-operating position to inhibit movement of the locating member to the second position and for moving relative to the administration set in the operating position to the second position.

14. A flow control apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the locating member is shaped for driving the administration set toward the operating position when engaging the administration set positioned on the housing in a near-operating position.

15. A flow control apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein the locating member comprises a generally wedge-shaped structure engageable with the administration set in the near-operating position for driving the administration set toward the operating position.

16. A flow control apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein the locating member comprises a door hingedly mounted on the housing, the wedge-shaped structure projecting outwardly from the door.

17. A flow control apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein the door is sized and shaped for substantially covering said received portion of the administration set.

18. A flow control apparatus as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a valve shaft engageable with a valve of the administration set for operating the valve when the administration set is received in the operating position on the housing.

19. A flow control apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the locating member is engageable with the administration set in the second position of the locating member to hold the administration set in the operating position.

20. A flow control apparatus as set forth in claim 13 in combination with the administration set.

21. A method of loading an administration set into a flow control apparatus operable to act on the administration set for flowing fluid in the administration set to a patient, the method comprising:

engaging at least a portion of the administration set in a receiving portion of a housing of the flow control apparatus;

moving a locating member associated with the flow control apparatus toward the receiving portion of the housing until the locating member reaches a closed position relative to the housing thereby indicating the administration set is in a operating position, or the locating member engages the administration set and is prevented from reaching the closed position;

indicating as a result of whether the locating member is in the closed position whether the administration set is in the operating position.

22. A method as set forth in claim 21 wherein moving the locating member toward the receiving portion of the housing until the locating member reaches the closed position includes driving the administration set with the locating member toward the operating position.

23. A method as set forth in claim 22 wherein driving the administration set comprises engaging a wedge-shaped structure associated with one of the administration set and the locating member with the other of the administration set and the locating member as the locating member moves to the closed position.

24. A method as set forth in claim 22 wherein driving the administration set comprises moving a valve mechanism of the administration set into coupling engagement with a valve control shaft of the flow control apparatus.

25. A flow control apparatus for use in delivering fluid to a patient through a fluid administration set, the flow control apparatus comprising:

a housing including a receiving portion shaped to receive at least a portion of the administration set in an operating position and at least one other non-operating position;

a pumping device engageable with the administration set for driving flow of fluid within the administration set;

a locating member movable relative to the housing between a first position in which the locating member is spaced farther away from the receiving portion of the housing and a second position in which the locating member is closer to the receiving portion of the housing, the locating member being shaped for engaging the administration set in a position near the operating position to move the administration set to the operating position as the locating member moves from the first position to the second position.