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Free flow prevention system for infusion pump

  • US 5,017,192 A
  • Filed: 10/20/1989
  • Issued: 05/21/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A free flow prevention system comprising:

  • IV tubing having a lumen through which fluid may be pumped for administration to a patient;

    a pumping assembly including pumping means for pumping fluid through the IV tubing, and releasable holding means for holding the IV tubing during operation of the pumping assembly;

    a flexible clamp associated with the IV tubing and having a pair of clamping arms defining a variable width slot along which the IV tubing may be moved between a first position wherein the width of the slot is sufficient to permit the clamp to be positioned longitudinally along the IV tubing, and a second position wherein the width of the slot is normally less than the width of the slot at the first position, the clamping arms being resiliently biased to a closed position wherein the IV tubing is squeezed when in its second position to close the lumen to prevent fluid flow, the clamping arms being movable against the bias to an open position wherein the lumen of the IV tubing is allowed to open so that flow through the lumen is permitted;

    clamp-receiving means on the pumping assembly for releasably receiving the flexible clamp; and

    releasable clamp-opening means for separating the clamping arms of the flexible clamp and moving the arms from their closed position to the open position before operation of the pumping assembly;

    the clamp-receiving means and clamp-opening means being mounted on the infusion pump for movement of the clamp-opening means relative to the flexible clamp received in the clamp-receiving means between an unloading position, wherein the clamp-opening means does not hold the arms of the flexible clamp in their open position, and an operating position, wherein the clamp-opening means moves the arms of the flexible clamp to their open position and holds the arms in the open position.

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