LIQUID INFUSION APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A liquid infusion apparatus, comprising:
- a liquid conduit comprising a proximal segment, a distal segment and an intermediate segment therebetween, the intermediate segment having 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, the flow valve comprising a shuttle member slidably disposed within a housing about the distal segment, the shuttle member being configured for lateral movement relative to an elongated axis of the distal segment, the shuttle member being configured to operate in a first configuration to impede fluid flow through the liquid conduit and in a second configuration for which fluid flow through the liquid conduit is unimpeded, the shuttle member comprising a resilient grasper for selectively engaging and disengaging a mating actuator resiliently received by the grasper;
wherein the resilient grasper comprises a pair of spaced, opposed jaws spanning a recess therebetween for engaging the mating actuator within the recess between the pair of jaws to transfer sufficient lateral force from the mating actuator to the shuttle member for sliding actuation thereof from the second configuration to the first configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling infusion of liquid into a patient using a peristaltic pump. The liquid infusion apparatus includes a liquid conduit having a proximal segment, a distal segment and an intermediate segment. The liquid infusion apparatus also includes a flow valve in fluid communication with the intermediate and distal segments. The flow valve includes a shuttle member slidably disposed within a housing about the distal segment, the shuttle member being configured for lateral movement relative to an elongated axis of the distal segment. The shuttle member is configured to operate in a first configuration to impede fluid flow through the liquid conduit and in a second configuration for which fluid flow through the liquid conduit is unimpeded. The shuttle member includes a resilient grasper for selectively engaging and disengaging a mating actuator resiliently received by the grasper.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A liquid infusion apparatus, comprising:
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a liquid conduit comprising a proximal segment, a distal segment and an intermediate segment therebetween, the intermediate segment having 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, the flow valve comprising a shuttle member slidably disposed within a housing about the distal segment, the shuttle member being configured for lateral movement relative to an elongated axis of the distal segment, the shuttle member being configured to operate in a first configuration to impede fluid flow through the liquid conduit and in a second configuration for which fluid flow through the liquid conduit is unimpeded, the shuttle member comprising a resilient grasper for selectively engaging and disengaging a mating actuator resiliently received by the grasper; wherein the resilient grasper comprises a pair of spaced, opposed jaws spanning a recess therebetween for engaging the mating actuator within the recess between the pair of jaws to transfer sufficient lateral force from the mating actuator to the shuttle member for sliding actuation thereof from the second configuration to the first configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for infusing liquid into a patient using a linear peristaltic pump and a platen positionable about a liquid conduit having 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; wherein operational engagement of the platen and tubular segment comprises operational engagement of a mating actuator carried by the platen with a resilient clamp of a flow valve carried by the tubular segment. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification