Plunger Disc Loading Mechanism For Syringe Pump

• US 20100063447A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elixir Corporation
• Original Assignee: Elixir Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Chang-Jung, Stempfle, Julius
• Granted Patent: US 7,905,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1458 Means for capture of the plunger flange

Abstract

A syringe pump is equipped with mechanism for easy handling of syringes of different sizes. The syringe pump is equipped with a plunger holding device. The plunger holding device includes a retainer housing with two retainer bars. The plunger holding device also includes two handles and a sensing plate. When two handles move toward each other, the retainer housing moves forward and two retainer bars moves away from each other. When two handles are released, the retainer housing slides back over a dowel pin attached to the sensing plate and the retainer bars return to their initial position. A plunger'"'"'s disc can be securely held by the retainer bars without introducing error in the sensing of the pushing force of the syringe plunger.

Claims

1. A syringe pump, comprising:

a housing;

a syringe saddle attached to the housing;

a syringe barrel clamp attached to the housing;

a slidable track connected to the housing;

a plunger holding device attached to the slidable track;

a first movable retainer bar and a second movable retainer bar connected to the plunger holding device; and

an activation mechanism connected to the plunger holding device for moving the first movable retainer bar and the second movable retainer bar away from the plunger holding device and away from each other,

wherein a disc of a plunger can be held by the first movable retainer bar and the second movable retainer bar and between two movable retainer bars and the plunger holding device.

2. The syringe pump of claim 1, further comprising a leadscrew placed inside the slidable track, the lead screw being capable of sliding the slidable track and moving the plunger holding device along the slidable track.

3. The syringe pump of claim 2, further comprising a release bar connected to the plunger holding device for disengaging the leadscrew from the slidable track when the activation mechanism is actuated.

4. The syringe pump of claim 1, further comprising a sensing plate connected to the plunger holding device.

5. The syringe pump of claim 4, further comprising a sensor attached to the sensing plate.

6. The syringe pump of claim 4, further comprising a dowel pin attached to the sensing plate.

7. The syringe pump of claim 6, further comprising a retainer housing connected to the plunger holding device and slidable over the dowel pin, wherein the first movable retainer bar and the second movable retainer bar being connected to the retainer housing.

8. The syringe pump of claim 7, further comprising an extension spring connecting the sensing plate to the retainer housing.

9. The syringe pump of claim 4, wherein the sensor capable of detecting pressure exerted on the sensing plate.

10. The syringe pump of claim 9, wherein the first movable retainer bar and the second movable retainer bar holding the disc of the plunger exerting no influence on a pressure detected by the sensor from pushing the plunger of the syringe.

11. The syringe pump of claim 1, wherein the activation mechanism further comprising a first clutch handle and a second handle, the first clutch handle moving toward the second handle causes the first movable retainer bar and the second movable retainer bar to move away from the plunger holding device.

12. The syringe pump of claim 11, further comprising a torsion spring attached to the first clutch handle.

13. A method for loading and securing a syringe on a syringe pump, the syringe having a barrel and a plunger disc, comprising the steps of:

placing the barrel on a syringe saddle of the syringe pump;

moving forward a retainer housing;

separating two movable retainer bars connected to the retainer housing away from each other;

placing the plunger disc between two movable retainer bars;

sliding the retainer housing back over a dowel pin of the syringe pump; and

securing a disc of the plunger between the two movable retainer bars.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of sensing a pressure exerted by the disc against a sensing plate of the syringe pump.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of moving two movable retainer bars forward away from a sensing plate of the syringe infusion pump.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of holding the disc against a sensing plate of the syringe pump.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of activating a clutch handle.

18. A syringe pump, comprising:

means for housing a control circuitry;

means for holding a syringe, the means for holding the syringe being attached to the means for housing a control circuitry;

means for locking the syringe in a position, the means for locking the syringe being attached to the means for housing a control circuitry;

means for holding a plunger;

means for moving the means for holding a plunger along an axis;

a first retainer means and a second retainer means for holding a disc of the plunger the first retainer means and the second retainer means being connected to the means for holding the plunger; and

means for moving the first retainer means away from the second retainer means.

19. The syringe pump of claim 18, further comprising means for sensing pressure of the plunger against the means for holding the plunger.

20. The syringe pump of claim 19, further comprising a slidable housing means, the slidable housing means being slidable over a dowel pin attached to the means for sensing pressure.

21. The syringe pump of claim 18, wherein the means for moving the first retainer means away from the second retainer means further comprising a clutch means and a second handle means when the clutch means moving toward the second handle means causes the first retainer means to move away from the second retainer means.