Method and apparatus for presetting device operating levels with display

• US 20080009787A1
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sterling Investments LC
• Original Assignee: Sterling Investments LC
• Inventors: Petelenz, Tomasz, Olsen, Shane, Jacobsen, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,727,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1405 Patient controlled analgesia [PCA]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6045 having complementary physical shapes for indexing or registration purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body

Abstract

Techniques for control of fluid delivery from a fluid reservoir by a medical infusion pump are described. Setting of at least one electronically-controllable pumping parameter is determined by the use of one or more mechanical keys. The mechanical key actuates one or more electronic switches of a mechanical key receptacle coupled to the medical infusion pump. The electronic switches are coupled to the medical infusion pump to control the at least one electronically-controllable pumping parameter. Keys can be differently configured to actuate different switches corresponding to particular settings and can include display indicia showing the particular parameter value set by the key.

Claims

1. A system for control of fluid delivery from a fluid reservoir by a medical infusion pump, comprising:

a medical infusion pump having at least one electronically-controllable pumping parameter;

a mechanical key receptacle coupled to the medical infusion pump and separate from the fluid reservoir, the mechanical key receptacle being configured to receive a mechanical key; and

at least one electronic switch disposed proximate to the mechanical key receptacle and positioned for selectable actuation by an inserted mechanical key, the at least one electronic switch coupled to the medical infusion pump to control the at least one electronically-controllable pumping parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronically-controllable pumping parameter is selected from the group consisting of base rate, bolus, lockout interval, and combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic switch comprises a pair of normally closed-circuit electrical contacts positioned such that an inserted non-conductive key portion can deflect at least one of the electrical contacts to create an open circuit condition.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the pair of normally closed-circuit electrical contacts comprises a printed circuit board trace.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical key separate from the fluid reservoir, the mechanical key comprising:

a key body having a shape compatible with insertion into the mechanical key receptacle, and

at least one key tab positioned on the key body to mechanically actuate at least one of the electronic switches.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the mechanical key comprises a plurality of key tab portions configured to activate a plurality of electronic switches, wherein the key tab portions encode a particular combination of electronic switch closures corresponding to a particular setting of the at least one electronically-controllable pumping parameter.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the mechanical key comprises a display indicia corresponding to a value of the at least one electronically-controllable pumping parameter controlled by the key.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a decoder coupled to the at least one electronic switch and the medical infusion pump, the decoder being configured to decode a pattern of open and closed states of the at least one electronic switch into a desired setting for the at least one electronically-controlled pumping parameter.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising:

a plurality of mechanical key receptacles coupled to the medical infusion pump and separate from the fluid reservoir,

each mechanical key receptacle configured to receive a differently shaped mechanical key,

each mechanical key receptacle having at least one electronic switch positioned for selectable actuation by an inserted mechanical key and coupled to the medical infusion pump to control a different electronically-controllable pumping parameter.

10. The system of claim 9, comprising a key set separate from the fluid reservoir and comprising a plurality of mechanical keys, each mechanical key

having a unique key body shape compatible with insertion into a corresponding unique one of the plurality of mechanical key receptacles;

and

having at least one key tab portion positioned on the mechanical key to mechanically actuate at least one of the at least one electronic switches associated with the mechanical key receptacle when inserted into the compatibly-shaped mechanical key receptacle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each mechanical key comprises a display indicia corresponding to the particular electronically-controllable pumping parameter controlled by the key.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein each mechanical key comprises a display indicia corresponding to the particular value of the electronically-controllable pumping parameter controlled by the key.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical key receptacle is further configured to hinder withdrawal of a mechanical key once the mechanical key is inserted.

14. A system for control of fluid delivery from a fluid reservoir by a medical infusion pump having at least one electronically-controllable pumping parameter, comprising:

a mechanical key separate from the fluid reservoir comprising;

a key body having a shape compatible with insertion into a corresponding mechanical key receptacle associated with the medical infusion pump, and

at least one key tab portion positioned on the key body to mechanically actuate at least one corresponding switch disposed proximate to the corresponding mechanical key receptacle when the mechanical key is inserted into the mechanical key receptacle, wherein the at least one corresponding switch controls the at least one electronically-controllable pumping parameter.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the mechanical key comprises a plurality of key tab portions positioned on the key body to mechanically actuate a plurality of corresponding switches disposed proximate to the corresponding mechanical key receptacle when the mechanical key is inserted into the mechanical key receptacle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of key tab portions corresponds to a switch pattern which encodes one of a plurality of possible values for the at least one electronically-controllable pumping parameter.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of key tab portions corresponds to a switch pattern when encodes a set of particular values for the at least one electronically-controlled pumping parameter.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the mechanical key comprises a display indicia corresponding to a value of the at least one electronically-controllable pumping parameter controlled by the mechanical key.

19. A system for control of fluid delivery from a fluid reservoir by a medical infusion pump having at least one electronically-controllable pumping parameter, comprising

a key set separate from the fluid reservoir and comprising a plurality of mechanical keys, each mechanical key

having a key body shape compatible with insertion into a compatibly-shaped mechanical key receptacle of the medical infusion pump, and

having a unique arrangement of at least one key tab positioned on the mechanical key to mechanically actuate at least one of a plurality of switches disposed proximate to the compatibly-shaped receptacle when inserted into the compatibly-shaped mechanical key receptacle.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each mechanical key comprises a display indicia corresponding to the particular pump parameter value unique to each key.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein each key body shape is compatible with insertion into one of a plurality of differently shaped mechanical key receptacles of the medical infusion pump, each mechanical key receptacle associated with a different electronically-controllable pump parameter.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein each mechanical key comprises a display indicia corresponding to the particular pump parameter controlled by the mechanical key.