Intravenous liquid pumping system and method

• US 4,468,222 A
• Filed: 12/03/1979
• Issued: 08/28/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valleylab Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Valleylab Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lundquist, Ingemar H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Application Number:
  US06/099,322
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 92/13.7, 92/98 R, 92/101, 92/102, 417/360, 417/383-389, 417/395, 417/236, 417/238, 417/454, 417/560, 417/566, 128/214 F, 128/DIG. 12
• US Class Current: 604/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/067 the fluid being actuated directly by a piston
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/12 by varying the length of stroke of the working members
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/1092 and one single element forming both the inlet and outlet closure member
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/164 Stoffing boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 9/042 the means being cams

Abstract

Intravenous Fluid Pumping System having a controller and a pump controlled by the controller. The controller has a sealed chamber with a flexible membrane covering a portion thereof. An incompressible fluid is disposed in the chamber. A piston member is movable in the chamber causing extension and retraction of the membrane as the piston is moved in and out relative to the chamber. A motor is provided for reciprocating the piston. The pump has a pump body with a pumping chamber therein with one portion of the pump body being covered by a flexible membrane in contact with flexible membrane carried by the sealed chamber of the controller. The pump has an inlet adapter connected to the source of fluid. The pump also has an outlet adapter connected to the patient. Inlet and outlet valves are provided in the pump body whereby when the controller is operated to flex the membrane of the sealed chamber of the controller, the diaphram of the pump is operated to cause movement of the valve members to cause fluid to pass from the source through the pump and to the patient under the control of the pump. The controller is also provided with an alarm system whereby positive and negative pressure conditions in the pumping chamber can be sensed.

In the method a piston-like member is used to positively cause displacement of a liquid within a sealed chamber to cause movement of a flexible membrane forming a portion of the sealed chamber. The movement of the flexible membrane causes simultaneous movement of another flexible membrane in intimate contact with the first-named flexible membrane. The movement of the second flexible membrane is used to create a pumping action in a pump having a pumping chamber in which the last-named flexible membrane forms a part of the pumping chamber.

Claims

1. In an intravenous liquid pumping system for use with a source of intravenous liquid to be supplied to a patient, a controller, a disposable pump for use with the controller and normally disposed of after a one-time use and clamping means for securing said disposable pump to the controller for easy insertion and removal of the disposable pump, the controller having a controller body forming a chamber with first and second openings in communication therewith, a plunger mounted in said first opening for movement into and out of the chamber between innermost and outermost positions, a flexible membrane carried solely by the controller body to seal said chamber so it is liquid tight, a constant quantity of liquid filling said sealed chamber whereby as said plunger is moved into and out of the liquid the membrane will be moved between extended and retracted positions and motive means for moving said plunger, said disposable pump having a rigid pump body with a pump chamber therein, said pump body having an opening therein in communication with said pump chamber, a flexible membrane carried solely by said pump body, and covering said opening in said pump body, said membrane carried by the pump body being exposed to the atmosphere when it is free of the controller, said pump body having outlet and inlet ports formed therein in communication with the pump chamber, outlet valve means for controlling liquid flow from the pump chamber through the outlet port, inlet valve means for controlling liquid flow into the pump chamber through the inlet port, each valve means including a valve seat and a valve member movable either to an inoperative position spaced from the seat or an operative position in cooperative relationship with the seat, means for biasing each of said valve members to its operative position when the pump is secured to the controller by the clamping means, means adapted to connect the inlet port to the source of liquid and means adapted to connect the outlet port to the patient, said clamping means for securing the disposable pump to the controller including means for positioning the pump so that the flexible membrane carried thereby is in intimate contact with the flexible membrane of the sealed chamber of the controller whereby as the plunger is moved, intravenous liquid is forced through said pump by conjoint movement of said membranes.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said clamping means for securing said disposable pump to said controller includes manually releasable clamping means for retaining said pump in engagement with the controller when said pump is in use.

11. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller includes a settable dosage rate control for controlling the rate of operation of said motive means.

12. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller includes means for causing rapid operation of the motive means during the up stroke of the plunger so as to maximize the time which can be utilized during the down stroke of the plunger for delivery of intravenous liquid to the patient.

2. In an intravenous liquid pumping system for use with a source of intravenous liquid to be supplied to a patient, a controller and a pump for use in the controller, the controller having a sealed chamber with a portion thereof being covered by a flexible membrane, a plunger mounted for movement into and out of the sealed chamber, a liquid filling said sealed chamber whereby as said plunger is moved into and out of the liquid the membrane will be moved between extended and retracted positions, motive means for moving said plunger, said pump having a pump body with a pump chamber therein, a portion of the pump chamber being covered by a flexible membrane, said pump body having outlet and inlet ports in communication with the pump chamber, outlet and inlet valve means for controlling the flow of liquid through the outlet and inlet ports, means adapted to connect the outlet port to the patient and means for positioning the pump so that the flexible-membrane carried thereby is in intimate contact with the flexible membrane of the sealed chamber of the controller whereby as the plunger is moved, intravenous liquid is forced through said pump by conjoint movement of said membranes, said outlet and inlet valve means in said pump including an outlet valve seat formed in the body and surrounding the outlet port, an inlet valve seat formed in the body and surrounding the inlet port, a flexible outlet valve member adapted to engage the outlet valve seat, a flexible inlet valve member adapted to engage the inlet valve seat, said controller including biasing means for biasing the outlet valve member and the inlet valve member into closed positions.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein said biasing means in the controller includes adjustable screws threaded into the controller and adapted to engage the outlet and inlet valve members.

5. In an intravenous liquid pumping system for use with a source of intravenous liquid to be supplied to a patient, a controller and a pump for use in the controller, the controller having a sealed chamber with a portion thereof being covered by a flexible membrane, a plunger mounted for movement into and out of the sealed chamber, a liquid filling said sealed chamber whereby as said plunger is moved into and out of the liquid the membrane will be moved between extended and retracted positions, motive means for moving said plunger, said pump having a pump body with a pump chamber therein, a portion of the pump chamber being covered by a flexible membrane, said pump body having outlet and inlet ports in communication with the pump chamber, outlet and inlet valve means for controlling the flow of liquid through the outlet and inlet ports, means adapted to connect the outlet port to the patient and means for positioning the pump so that the flexible-membrane carried thereby is in intimate contact with the flexible membrane of the sealed chamber of the controller whereby as the plunger is moved, intravenous liquid is forced through said pump by conjoint movement of said membranes, said motive means for moving said plunger including a motor having an output shaft, dosage and piston cams driven by said output shaft, a settable predetermining dosage counter, lever means actuated by said dosage cam and for operating said predetermining dosage counter and lever means engaging said piston cam and engaging said plunger for causing movement of said plunger in accordance with the rotation of said cam.

6. A system as in claim 5 wherein said lever means engaging said piston cam includes a pivotally mounted roller arm engaging said piston cam, a pivotally mounted yield arm, a pivotally mounted actuator arm engaging said plunger and being coupled to said yield arm whereby upon movement of said yield arm said actuator arm is operated to cause movement of said plunger.

7. A system as in claim 6 wherein said controller includes switch means and means for mounting said switch means on one of said arms of said lever means engaging said piston cam whereby movement of said yield arm relative to said roller arm causes a contact closure in said switch means to energize an alarm.

8. A system as in claim 7 wherein said switch means is mounted on said actuator arm together with a pin carried by the roller arm for operating the switch means, said switch means including contacts for making a contact closure when overpressure and underpressure conditions are encountered by the plunger.

9. A system as in claim 6 wherein said controller includes means for controlling the length of stroke of said plunger.

10. A system as in claim 9 wherein said means for controlling length of stroke of said plunger includes means for engaging the roller arm for limiting upward movement of the plunger.

13. In a controller for use in an intravenous liquid pumping system of the type including a removable pump assembly having a rigid pump body having an opening therein and a flexible membrane carried by the pump body and closing said opening, said controller comprising a rigid controller body having a chamber formed therein with first and second openings, a plunger mounted in said first opening for movement into and out of the chamber between innermost and outermost positions, means for yieldably urging said plunger towards its outermost position, a flexible membrane carried solely by the controller body and covering said second opening to form said chamber in combination with said plunger into a liquid-tight chamber, a constant quantity of liquid filling said chamber whereby as said plunger is moved into and out of the liquid the membrane carried by the controller will be extended and retracted and motive means for causing movement of said plunger, said membrane carried by the controller having its outer surface exposed to the atmosphere and adapted to be engaged by the membrane carried by the pump body to cause simultaneous movement of the membrane carried by the pump body and the membrane of the controller as the membrane of the controller is moved by the movement of the plunger of the controller.

14. A controller as in claim 13 wherein said means for yieldably urging said plunger towards its outermost position includes yieldable spring means mounted on said controller body engaging said plunger for urging said plunger towards an extreme upstroke position.

15. A controller as in claim 14 wherein said motive means includes a drive motor having an output shaft, a plunger cam driven by said shaft, lever arm means engaging said plunger cam and engaging said plunger for causing downstroke movement of said plunger against the force of the yieldable spring means.

16. A controller for use in intravenous liquid pumping systems, a controller with a chamber therein, a portion of the chamber being covered by a flexible membrane, a plunger mounted for movement into and out of the chamber between innermost and outermost positions, a liquid filling said chamber whereby as said plunger is moved into and out of the liquid the membrane will be extended and retracted and motive means for causing movement of said plunger, said motive means for causing movement of said plunger including yieldable spring means mounted on said controller body engaging said plunger for urging said plunger towards an extreme upstroke position, said motive means also including a drive motor having an output shaft, a plunger cam driven by said shaft, lever means engaging plunger cam and engaging said plunger for causing a downstroke movement of said plunger against the force of the yieldable spring means, said lever arm means including first, second and third levers with the first lever engaging the plunger cam and the third lever engaging the plunger and spring means for connecting said second lever to said first and third levers.

17. A controller as in claim 16 together with switch means carried by one of said first, second and third levers whereby upon relative movement of said levers with respect to each other, said switch means will be operated to initiate an alarm.

18. A controller as in claim 17 wherein said switch means is capable of ascertaining whether said plunger encounters an overpressure or underpressure condition.

19. A controller as in claim 16 together with means for limiting the stroke of said plunger, said means for limiting stroke of said plunger including a stop member adapted to be engaged by the first lever arm and means for adjustably positioning the stop member.

20. In a pump for use with a source of liquid and a patient and with a controller of the type having a rigid controller body with a chamber formed therein having first and second openings extending into the chamber, a plunger mounted in the first opening for movement into and out of the chamber between innermost and outermost positions, a flexible membrane carried solely by the controller body and covering said second opening in the controller body and in combination with said plunger sealing said chamber so that said chamber is liquid tight, a liquid filling said sealed chamber whereby as the plunger is moved into and out of the liquid, the membrane will be moved between extended and retracted positions and motive means for moving said plunger, said pump comprising solely a rigid pump body forming a pump chamber and an opening in communication with said pump chamber, a flexible membrane exposed to the atmosphere carried solely by said pump body and closing said opening in said pump body, said pump body having outlet and inlet ports in communication with said pump chamber with the outlet port being adapted to be connected to the patient and the inlet port being adapted to be connected to the source of liquid, outlet valve means for controlling liquid flow from the pump chamber through the outlet port, inlet valve means for controlling the flow of liquid through the inlet port into the pump chamber, each valve means including a valve seat and a valve member movable either to an inoperative position spaced from the seat or an operative position in cooperation with the seat, and means for biasing each of said valve members to its inoperative position when the pump is separated from the controller, said pump being capable of being positioned in proximity to said controller so that the flexible membrane of the pump is in intimate contact with the membrane of the controller whereby when the plunger is moved, the membrane on the pump will be moved to cause operation of the inlet and outlet valve means and a pumping action with liquid being supplied to the patient from the source.

26. A controller as in claim 20 together with sealing means for establishing a seal between the controller body and the plunger.

27. A controller as in claim 26 wherein said means for establishing a seal between the controller body and the plunger includes spaced annular sealing means engaging the plunger and a liquid disposed between the spaced annular sealing means and the controller body for filling the space between the annular sealing means so that no air is present in said space.

21. In a pump for use with a source of liquid and a patient and with a controller of the type having a rigid controller body with a chamber formed therein having first and second openings extending into the chamber, a plunger mounted in the first opening for movement into and out of the chamber between innermost and outermost positions a flexible membrane carried solely by the controller body and covering said second opening in the controller body and in combination with said plunger sealing said chamber so that said chamber is liquid tight, a liquid filling said sealed chamber whereby as the plunger is moved into and out of the liquid, the membrane will be moved between extended and retracted positions and motive means for moving said plunger, said pump comprising solely a rigid pump body forming a pump chamber and an opening in communication with said pump chamber a flexible membrane exposed to the atmosphere carried solely by said pump body and closing said opening in said pump body, said pump body having outlet and inlet ports in communication with said pump chamber with the outlet port being adapted to be connected to the patient and the inlet port being adapted to be connected to the source of liquid and outlet and inlet valve means movable between open and closed positions for controlling flow of liquid through the outlet and inlet ports so that when said outlet and inlet valve means are in closed positions the chamber in the body is liquid tight and when the outlet and inlet valve means are in open positions liquid can pass from the inlet port through the chamber in the pump body and out the outlet port, said pump being capable of being positioned in proximity to said controller so that the flexible membrane of the pump is in intimate contact with the membrane of the controller whereby when the plunger is moved, the membrane on the pump will be moved to cause a pumping action with liquid being supplied to the patient from the source, said outlet and inlet valve means including an inlet valve seat formed in the body and an outlet valve seat formed in the body and flexible inlet and outlet valve means adapted to be moved into engagement with the inlet and outlet valve seats, said inlet and outlet valve means including means for biasing them into normally open positions.

23. A pump as in claim 21 wherein said inlet and outlet valve means includes flexible valve members and wherein said valve members and said membrane of said pump are formed integral with each other.

22. In a pump for use with the source of liquid and a patient and a controller of the type having a sealed chamber with a portion thereof being formed by a flexible membrane, a plunger mounted for movement into and out of the sealed chamber between innermost and outermost positions, a liquid filling said sealed chamber whereby as the plunger is moved into and out of the liquid the membrane will be moved between extended and retracted positions, motive means for moving said plunger and valve biasing means, said pump comprising a pump body having a chamber formed therein, a portion of said pump chamber being formed by a flexible membrane, said pump body having outlet and inlet ports in communication with the pump chamber, the outlet port being adapted to be connected to the patient and the inlet port being adapted to be connected to the source of liquid and outlet and inlet valve means for controlling the flow of liquid through the outlet and inlet ports said pump being capable of being positioned in proximity to said controller so that the flexible membrane of the pump is in intimate contact with the membrane of the controller whereby when the plunger is moved, the membrane on the pump will be moved to cause a pump action with liquid being supplied to the patient from the source, said outlet and inlet valve means including an inlet valve seat formed in the body and an outlet valve seat formed in the body and flexible inlet and outlet valve members adapted to be moved into engagement with the inlet and outlet valve seats, said pump being adapted to be positioned with respect to said controller so that said valve biasing means biases said inlet and outlet valves towards the inlet and outlet valve seats.

24. In a pump for use with the source of liquid and a patient and a controller of the type having a sealed chamber with a portion thereof being formed by a flexible membrane, a plunger mounted for movement into and out of the sealed chamber between innermost and outermost positions, a liquid filling said sealed chamber whereby as the plunger is moved into and out of the liquid the membrane will be moved between extended and retracted positions, motive means for moving said plunger and valve biasing means, said pump comprising a pump body having a chamber formed therein, a portion of said pump chamber being formed by a flexible membrane, said pump body having outlet ports in communication with the pump chamber, the outlet port being adapted to be connectd to the patient and the inlet port being adapted to be connected to the source of liquid and outlet and inlet valve means for controlling the flow of liquid through the outlet and inlet ports, said pump being capable of being positioned in proximity to said controller so that the flexible membrane of the pump is in intimate contact with the membrane of the controller whereby when the plunger is moved, the membrane on the pump will be moved to cause a pumping action with liquid being supplied to the patient from the source, said outlet and inlet valve means including an inlet valve seat formed in the body and an outlet valve seat formed in the body and flexible inlet and outlet valve members adapted to be moved into engagement with the inlet and outlet valve seat, said flexible inlet and outlet valve members including a mushroom-shaped valve, a valve stem formed integral with the valve and a disc-like member formed integral with the valve stem.

25. A pump as in claim 24 wherein said pump body is provided with an opening through which the flexible member is exposed and wherein said pump body is provided with openings overlying the disc-like members.

28. In a method for causing pumping of an intravenous liquid from a source of liquid to a patient by the use of a controller having a controller body with a chamber formed therein and first and second openings in communication with the chamber, a piston-like member mounted in the first opening for movement between first and second positions, a flexible membrane carried solely by the controller body and closing said second opening to seal said chamber so that it is liquid tight, and a constant volume of liquid disposed in said chamber and by the use of a pump having a pump body with a pump chamber formed therein and an opening in communication with the pump chamber, a flexible membrane carried solely by said pump body and closing said opening in said pump body, said pump body having inlet and outlet ports formed therein, and inlet and outlet valves carried in the pump body for controlling the flow of liquid through the inlet and outlet ports, the method comprising connecting the inlet to the source of liquid, filling the pump chamber with liquid from the source so that there are no air bubbles in the pump chamber, placing the pump body in contact with the controller so that the membrane carried by the pump body is in intimate contact with the membrane carried by the controller, connecting the outlet to the patient, causing movement of the piston-like member to cause displacement of the liquid in the chamber and thereby cause movement of the flexible membranes carried by the controller and the pump and to thereby cause liquid from the source to be pumped through the pump chamber to the patient, disconnecting the outlet from the patient and the inlet from the source, separating the pump from the controller and normally disposing of the pump after only one use.

29. A method as in claim 28 wherein the displacement of the membrane of the pump is directly proportional to the movement of the piston-like member.

30. A separate and independent pump assembly for use with a source of liquid and a patient and consisting of a rigid pump body having a chamber formed therein adapted to receive said liquid, said body having an opening formed therein which is in communication with the chamber, a substantially planar flexible membrane having an exterior surface exposed to the atmosphere covering said opening in said pump body, said pump body being formed with inlet and outlet ports spaced from said opening in communication with said chamber, said inlet port being adapted to be connected to the source of liquid, said outlet port being adapted to be connected to the patient, inlet valve means for controlling the flow of liquid through the inlet into said chamber, and outlet valve means for controlling the flow of liquid from the chamber through the outlet, each valve means including a valve seat and a valve member movable to either an inoperative position spaced from the seat or to an operative position in cooperative relationship with the seat, means for yieldably urging each of the valve members to its inoperative position to permit liquid to flow through the pump independent of movement of the membrane, said membrane being movable between extended and retracted positions to cause operation of said inlet and outlet valve means whereby liquid is caused to flow into the chamber through the inlet port and out of the chamber through the outlet port.

31. A pump assembly as in claim 30 wherein said flexible membrane and said inlet and outlet valve means are formed integrally of a rubber-like material.

32. A separate and independent pump assembly for use with a source of liquid and a patient and consisting of a pump body having a chamber formed therein adapted to receive said liquid, a portion of said chamber being formed by a flexible membrane having an exterior surface exposed to the atmosphere, said pump body being formed with inlet and outlet ports in communication with said chamber, said inlet port being adapted to be connected to the source of liquid, said outlet port being adapted to be connected to the patient and inlet and outlet valve means disposed in the inlet and outlet ports for controlling the flow of liquid through the inlet and outlet ports, said membrane being movable between extended and retracted positions to cause liquid to flow into the chamber through the inlet port and out of the chamber through the outlet port, said inlet and outlet valve means including means for biasing the same into normally open positions to permit liquid to readily flow from the inlet port through the chamber and through the outlet port.

33. A pump assembly as in claim 32 for use with external valve biasing means and wherein said pump body is formed to receive said external valve biasing means for biasing said inlet and outlet valve means from their normally open positions to closed positions.

34. In a pumping apparatus, a body having a chamber for containing liquid, the body having an inlet for supplying liquid to the chamber and an outlet for delivering the liquid to a patient, valve means for controlling flow through the inlet into the chamber, valve means for controlling flow from the chamber through the outlet, each valve means including a valve seat and a valve member movable to either an inoperative position spaced from the seat or to an operating position in cooperative relationship with the seat, a receptacle against which the body is adapted to be clamped, means for biasing each of said valve members to its inoperative position when the body is separated from the receptacle and means for moving each of said valve members to its operating position relative to its corresponding seat when the body is clamped to the receptacle.

35. A pumping apparatus as in claim 34 in which two spaced diaphragms of resilient material are disposed in one wall of the body, each of said valve members being attached to a corresponding diaphragm, said diaphragms when the body is separated from the receptable serving to bias said valve members to the inoperative positions of the same, and in which said means for moving each of said valve members to its operating position includes members for flexing said diaphragms in a direction toward the interior of the chamber when the body is clamped to said receptacle, whereby said valve members are moved to operating positions of the same.

36. Apparatus as in claim 34 together with a controller fixed with respect to the receptacle, a pumping diaphragm in one wall of the body and adapted to be flexed to vary the volumetric capacity of the chamber, and means for operatively coupling the controller to said diaphragm when the body is clamped to the receptacle, the controller when operating serving to recurrently flex the diaphragm to effect pumping action.

37. A pumping apparatus as in claim 36 in which the controller includes a body forming a closed liquid containing chamber, a plunger extending into the body of the controller and adapted to be reciprocated, and a flexible diaphragm of resilient material forming one wall of the chamber of the controller, said diaphragm of the controller being pressed into interface contact with the diaphragm of the first named body when the first named body is clamped against the receptacle, thereby providing the aforesaid coupling means.