Anti-clogging liquid administration apparatus and method
First Claim
1. The method of infusing liquid from a reservoir into a patient through a liquid-delivery conduit including an intravascular conduit which is inserted into a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- infusing liquid from the reservoir into the patient at a first selected delivery rate;
detecting the infusion of a selected volume of liquid into the patient; and
thereafter infusing liquid into the patient at a second delivery rate which is slower than the first delivery rate and which is sufficient to flush the intravascular conduit to prevent clogging by the formation of blood clots therein.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and means for preventing the intravascular needle of liquid infusion apparatus from clogging uses a delivery control means which operates in two modes at two liquid delivery rates. In the first operating mode, the delivery control means may be set to deliver liquid to a patient at a selected rate. In the second operating mode, the delivery control means supplies liquid at a slower rate which is sufficient to flush the needle. The transition from operation in the first mode to operation in the second mode is initiated in various ways in response to the volume of liquid delivered to a patient.
24 Citations
14 Claims
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1. The method of infusing liquid from a reservoir into a patient through a liquid-delivery conduit including an intravascular conduit which is inserted into a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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infusing liquid from the reservoir into the patient at a first selected delivery rate; detecting the infusion of a selected volume of liquid into the patient; and thereafter infusing liquid into the patient at a second delivery rate which is slower than the first delivery rate and which is sufficient to flush the intravascular conduit to prevent clogging by the formation of blood clots therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for infusing liquid from a reservoir into a patient through a liquid delivery conduit including an intravascular conduit which is inserted into a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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liquid-delivery control means communicating with the liquid-delivery conduit at a location therealong intermediate the reservoir and needle, said liquid-delivery control means being operable in a first mode in which liquid is delivered thereby at a selected rate and in a second mode in which liquid is delivered thereby at a rate slower than said selected rate during operation in the first mode and sufficient to flush the intravascular conduit to prevent clogging by formation of blood clots therein; and detector means coupled to said liquid-delivery control means for converting the operation thereof from the first mode to the second mode in response to detection of a condition which is representative of the volume of liquid delivered. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification