CASSETTE WITH INFUSION SET CONTAINING ANTI-FREEFLOW BALL VALVE FOR PERISTALTIC INFUSION PUMP

• US 20120266964A1
• Filed: 07/08/2010
• Published: 10/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: West, David Woodruff, Higgins, James Allen, Hariharesan, Seralaathan, Halbert, Alan P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,440,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/281 Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/283 Screw clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14212 Pumping with an aspiration and an expulsion action
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/06 by means of a screw-spindle, cam, or other mechanical means F16K7/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8593 Systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump

Abstract

Flow control devices and methods of using the flow control devices are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a cassette (30) comprising a housing (32) having a constrictor (34), a tube (36) attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor, and a ball positioned inside the tube. The constrictor can be constructed and arranged to prevent the ball (38) from moving through the tube at the location proximate the constrictor. The ball can prevent fluid flow in one position and be dislodged to allow fluid flow when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device. As a result, the cassette is designed to prevent free flow of fluid when an enteral feeding tube set is not installed in a pumping device.

Claims

1. A cassette comprising:

a housing comprising a constrictor;

a tube attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor; and

a ball located inside the tube.

2. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the constrictor is so constructed and arranged to prevent the ball from moving through the tube at a location proximate the constrictor.

3. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a first end attached to an inlet port and a second end attached to an outlet port.

4. The cassette of claim 1, wherein the inlet port is sized to prevent the ball from entering the inlet port.

5. The cassette of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the tube is flexible.

6. A flow control system comprising:

a pumping device comprising a dislodging mechanism;

a cassette removably attached to the pumping device, the cassette comprising a housing comprising a constrictor so constructed and arranged to align with the dislodging mechanism when the cassette is positioned within the pumping device;

a flexible tube attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor; and

a ball located inside the flexible tube.

7. The flow control system of claim 6, wherein the constrictor is so constructed and arranged to prevent the ball from moving through the flexible tube at a location proximate the constrictor.

8. The flow control system of claim 6, wherein the flexible tube comprises a first end attached to an inlet port and a second end attached to an outlet port.

9. The flow control system of claim 6, wherein the inlet port is sized to prevent the ball from entering the inlet port.

10. The flow control system of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the tube is flexible.

11. A flow control system comprising:

a pumping device;

a cassette removably attached to the pumping device, the cassette comprising a housing comprising a constrictor and a dislodging mechanism attached to the constrictor;

a flexible tube attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor; and

a ball located inside the flexible tube.

12. The flow control system of claim 11, wherein the constrictor is so constructed and arranged to prevent the ball from moving through the flexible tube at a location proximate the constrictor.

13. The flow control system of claim 11, wherein the flexible tube comprises a first end attached to an inlet port and a second end attached to an outlet port.

14. The flow control system of claim 11, wherein the inlet port is sized to prevent the ball from entering the inlet port.

15. The flow control system of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the tube is flexible.

16. A method of controlling fluid flow in a tube, the method comprising:

providing a cassette comprising

     1) a housing having a constrictor,

     2) a tube attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor, and

     3) a ball positioned inside the tube;

occluding fluid flow through the tube by positioning the ball within the tube at a location proximate the constrictor; and

passing fluid through the tube by dislodging the ball within the tube.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the ball is dislodged when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein a dislodging mechanism is attached to the cassette and is constructed and arranged to dislodge the ball when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein a dislodging mechanism is attached within a pumping device and is constructed and arranged to dislodge the ball when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device.