Infusion pump with feedback control
First Claim
1. Apparatus for administering a labor-inducing drug to a patient bearing a fetus in an infusion cycle wherein there exist a time interval between infusions and an interval when the drug is infused, comprising pumping means for supplying the drug to the patient, first timing means and second timing means, said first timing means being effective to predetermine the interval between infusions, said second timing means being effective to predetermine the time of infusion, said second timing means being responsive to said first timing means timing out to actuate said pumping means, means for resetting said first timing means and said second timing means at the end of an infusion interval and for restarting said first timing means, means for sensing a labor contraction of the patient and for disabling said pumping means in response thereto, means for resetting said first timing means and said second timing means in response to a labor contraction being sensed, and means for restarting said first timing means at the end of said labor contraction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An episodic infusion pump apparatus with feedback control for periodically administering a pharmaceutical, such as oxytocin or the like, to induce labor in a pregnant woman. The drug is administered at periodic intervals except during labor contractions or when the fetal heartrate indicates fetal distress.
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Citations
15 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for administering a labor-inducing drug to a patient bearing a fetus in an infusion cycle wherein there exist a time interval between infusions and an interval when the drug is infused, comprising pumping means for supplying the drug to the patient, first timing means and second timing means, said first timing means being effective to predetermine the interval between infusions, said second timing means being effective to predetermine the time of infusion, said second timing means being responsive to said first timing means timing out to actuate said pumping means, means for resetting said first timing means and said second timing means at the end of an infusion interval and for restarting said first timing means, means for sensing a labor contraction of the patient and for disabling said pumping means in response thereto, means for resetting said first timing means and said second timing means in response to a labor contraction being sensed, and means for restarting said first timing means at the end of said labor contraction.
- 14. A method of inducing labor in a patient bearing a fetus by the administration of a labor-inducing drug in an infusion cycle wherein there exist a time interval between infusions and an interval when the drug is infused comprising the steps of normally measuring a first time interval, infusing the drug to the patient for a second interval of time at the end of said first time interval, sensing a labor contraction of the patient, halting said infusion in response to said labor contraction being sensed, and continuing said infusion cycles commencing with said first time interval at the end of said labor contraction.
Specification