AUTOMATIC RELAY PUMP SYSTEM AND METHOD
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Abstract
An automatic pump relay system includes controllers coupled to drivers for sequentially discharging fluid from a plurality of medication containers into a coupler having a reflux barrier from which fluid is administered to a patient. The internal fluid pressure of the coupler is determined by a pressure sensing device or devices that provide signals to the controllers that, based at least on the sensor signals, cause the drivers to operate in reverse and forward directions so as to rapidly decrease and raise the fluid pressure within the coupler during a relay from an empty syringe to a filled syringe, thereby avoiding bolus formation and an interruption in infusion therapy. Independently operable syringes pumps are contemplated to be connected in relay fashion to form a modular system. An associated method is also disclosed wherein a fluid administration pressure is stored for use as a reference during a syringe changeover.
40 Citations
27 Claims
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1-10. -10. (canceled)
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11. A continuous medication infusion relay method comprising:
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discharging fluid contained in a first medication container through a fluid communication device; determining fluid pressure within the fluid communication device; storing a reference pressure at a time corresponding to fluid flow out of the fluid communication device; reducing the fluid pressure within the fluid communication device; increasing the fluid pressure within the fluid communication device to the stored reference pressure; and discharging fluid contained in a second medication container through the fluid communication device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A continuous medical pump relay system comprising:
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a plurality of drivers configured to discharge fluid from a plurality of medication containers; a fluid communication device having a plurality of fluid inputs, each one of the fluid inputs configured to receive fluid from a medication container, and a fluid output including a reflux barrier, the reflux barrier configured to provide resistance to fluid flow out of the fluid communication device and into an administration tube connected to a patient and configured to prevent a decrease in fluid pressure in the fluid communication device from decreasing fluid pressure within the administration tube; a pressure sensing device configured to generate sensor signals representative of fluid pressure at one or more locations within the fluid communication device; and a controller coupled to the driver and the pressure sensing device, the controller configured to operate the driver based at least on the sensor signals from the pressure sensing device such that fluid pressure within the communication device is decreased by running the driver in a reverse direction with respect to a first medication container, whereafter fluid pressure within the communication device is raised to a reference pressure by running the driver in a forward direction with respect to a second medication container, the reference pressure being a pressure required to overcome the reflux barrier'"'"'s resistance to fluid flow out of the fluid communication device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification