AUTOMATIC SAFETY OCCLUDER

• US 20110276000A1
• Filed: 07/22/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zevex (Moog Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zevex (Moog Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stringham, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,491,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/28 Clamping means for squeezing flexible tubes, e.g. roller clamps tube strippers A61M1/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28

Abstract

An automatic safety occluder provides an occluder for an infusion set that is biased in a closed position until an electrical signal is received that causes the occluder to open. Should the occluder fail to be installed correctly, or if power is removed, the occluder will return to its biased closed position, preventing free flow. The occluder may also be placed in an integrated unit such that the automatic safety occluder may attach to the tubing as a unit.

Claims

1. A safety occluder system comprising:

a body having a void for receiving a plunger;

a plunger movable within the void between a first position and a second position;

an opening through the plunger and body;

a resilient tube disposed in the opening;

wherein, in the first position, flow is allowed through the tube and wherein, in the second position, the tube is pinched closed and flow is not allowed through the tube; and

an electrical solenoid disposed in contact with the plunger and configured for moving the plunger from the second position to the first position when electricity is applied to the solenoid.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the solenoid is attached to the plunger and not to the body of the occluder such that actuation of the solenoid will not actuate the occluder if the occluder and solenoid are not constrained to a fixed position.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pump, and wherein the pump has a recess formed therein for receiving the occluder and solenoid, and wherein the recess engages the occluder and the solenoid such that the solenoid actuates the occluder when an electrical signal is applied thereto.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the solenoid is formed as part of an infusion pump, and wherein the occluder is disposable in the infusion pump adjacent the solenoid such that actuation of the solenoid actuates the occluder.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a registration member for aligning the occluder within the pump.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the registration member aligns the occluder with the solenoid.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the registration member is part of the occluder.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the pump comprises a recess formed in the pump adjacent the solenoid for receiving the occluder therein.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the occluder further comprises a biasing element disposed between the body and the plunger for biasing the plunger into the second position.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the tube engages the pumping mechanism of a pump to move fluid through the tube.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the solenoid has a biasing member such that, when an electrical is not applied to the solenoid, the solenoid is biased into a non-actuated position permitting the plunger to move into the second position to prevent flow through the tube.

12-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method of selectively preventing flow through an infusion set comprising:

selecting an infusion set, the infusion set having a tube through which fluid is delivered and an occluder disposed on the tube;

selecting a pump, the pump having an electric solenoid;

mounting the infusion set and occluder in a pump such that the occluder is disposed adjacent the solenoid; and

selectively sending an electrical signal to the occluder to selectively allow flow through the occluder.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the pump has a recess therein for receiving the occluder and wherein the solenoid is disposed in communication with the recess.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the method comprises selecting an infusion set with an occluder comprising:

a body having a passage therethrough;

a plunger movable within the body and having a passage therethrough;

the tube located in the body passage and the plunger passage;

wherein the plunger is movable between a first position wherein the body passage and the plunger passage are in alignment to allow flow through the tube and a second position wherein the tube is pinched between the body passage and the plunger passage; and

a biasing member disposed between the body and the plunger to bias the plunger into the second position.