Syringe pump pusher

• US 5,232,449 A
• Filed: 04/29/1992
• Issued: 08/03/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Rosen, Edward, Wittes, James M., Stern, Carl M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Ralph
• Application Number:
  US07/875,906
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 604/65, 604/67, 604/151, 604/152, 604/154, 604/155, 128/DIG. 1, 128/DIG. 12, 128/DIG. 13
• US Class Current: 604/154
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14573 with a replaceable reservoir for quick connection/disconnection with a driving system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 Motorized syringe
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion

Abstract

A belt driven infusion pump for emptying the contents of a syringe is disclosed. The pump includes a syringe pusher including an antisiphon catch and a pressure detector which is used for detecting occlusions or the end of infusion. A syringe clamp for locking a syringe in place is also provided. The syringe clamp is spring-loaded and lockable. A syringe position detector is provided to ensure the proper placement of the syringe prior to and during pumping. A control knob is provided on the face of the pump for controlling both the locking of the syringe barrel clamp and the coupling of the drive belt with a d.c. motor. The pump includes a housing having an elongated slot through which the syringe pusher is connected to the drive belt. A sealing band is connected to the syringe pusher and is moveable with the syringe pusher for sealing the slot against moisture or other contaminants. A pole clamp assembly is incorporated within the pump housing and includes a clamping arm for securing the pole between the clamping arm and the housing. The clamping arm is movable to a storage position where it is substantially flush with the outer surface of the pump housing.

Claims

1. A syringe pump comprising a power source, a motor, a drive mechanism, means for holding a syringe having a plunger and a pusher for driving the syringe plunger, the pusher comprising:

a pusher housing;

a lever pivotably mounted to the housing at a pivot point so that the lever is rotatable between a first position and a second position;

a first projection secured to the lever at a first distance from the pivot point such that when the syringe plunger is placed in abutment with the projection and the motor is operating a pushing force is imparted from the motor through the drive mechanism to the syringe plunger via the first projection;

a detector means for detecting the pushing force, the detector means being actuable by the lever such that the detector means changes state when the lever moves from the first position to the second position;

resilient means for biasing the lever towards the first position with a biasing force, such that the resilient means inhibits the lever from moving from the first position to the second position until the pushing force exceeds a predetermined force, the predetermined force being dependent on the distance from the pivot point to the first projection and on the biasing force.

2. The syringe pump of claim 1 further comprising a second projection secured to the lever at a second distance from the pivot point, the second distance being less than the first distance, such that when the second projection but not the first projection abuts the syringe plunger, a larger force is required to move the lever from the first position to the second position than the force required to move the lever from the first position to the second position when the first projection abuts the syringe plunger.

3. The syringe pump of claim 2 wherein the second projection is longer than the first projection.

4. A syringe pump comprising a power source, a motor, a drive mechanism, means for holding a syringe having a plunger and a pusher for driving the syringe plunger, the pusher comprising:

pushing means for pushing the syringe plunger;

a pusher housing for carrying the pushing means;

a pivot point mounted to the housing;

a swing arm pivotably mounted to the housing at the pivot point, the swing arm being engagable with the syringe plunger and the swing arm being rotatable about the pivot point between a first position in which the swing arm engages the syringe plunger when the syringe plunger is placed in abutment with the pushing means and a second position in which the swing arm does not engage the syringe plunger, wherein, when the swing arm engages the syringe plunger, the syringe plunger is secured to the pushing means by the swing arm;

detector means actuable by the lever, such that the detector means changes state when the swing arm moves between the first position and the second position.

5. The syringe pump of claim 4 further comprising means for biasing the swing arm towards the second position.

6. The syringe pump of claim 4 wherein the housing has a first side, the pushing means being mounted to the first side, and a second side substantially perpendicular to the first side, the swing arm being mounted to the second side.

7. A syringe pump comprising a power source, a motor, a drive mechanism, means for holding a syringe having a plunger and a pusher for driving a plunger of the syringe, the pusher comprising:

a pusher housing;

a pusher means carried by the housing for imparting a pushing force to the syringe plunger when the syringe is held by the means for holding, the pushing means comprising;

a first lever pivotably mounted to the housing at a first pivot point so that the first lever is rotatable between a first position and a second position;

a first projection secured to the first lever at a first distance from the first pivot point such that when the pump is operating and the syringe plunger is placed in abutment with the pushing means the pushing means imparts a pushing force from the motor through the drive mechanism to the syringe plunger via the first projection;

a force detector means for detecting the pushing force, the force detector means being actuable by the first lever such that the force detector means changes state when the first lever moves from the first position to the second position;

first resilient means for biasing the first lever towards the first position with a first biasing force, such that the first resilient means inhibits the first lever from moving from the first position to the second position until the pushing force exceeds a predetermined force, the predetermined force being dependent on the distance from the first pivot point to the first projection and on the biasing force;

a second pivot point mounted on the housing;

a swing arm pivotably mounted on the housing at the second pivot point, the swing arm being engagable with the syringe plunger rotatable about the second pivot point between an engaged position in which the swing arm engages the syringe plunger when the syringe plunger is placed in abutment with the pushing means and a closed position in which the swing arm does not engage the syringe plunger, wherein, when the swing arm engages the syringe plunger the syringe plunger is secured to the pushing means by the swing arm;

syringe plunger detector means actuable by the swing arm, such that the syringe plunger detector means changes state when the swing arm moves between the first position and the second position.

8. The syringe pump of claim 7 further comprising a second projection secured to the first lever at a second distance from the first pivot point, the second distance being less than the first distance, such that when the second projection but not the first projection abuts the syringe plunger, a larger force is required to move the first lever from the first position to the second position than the force required to move the first lever from the first position to the second position when the first projection abuts the syringe plunger.

9. The syringe pump of claim 10 wherein the second projection is longer than the first projection.

10. The syringe pump of claim 7 further comprising means for biasing the swing arm towards the closed position.

11. The syringe pump of claim 7 wherein the carrier has a first side and a second side, the first side being substantially perpendicular to the second side, the pushing means being mounted to the first side and the swing arm being mounted to the second side.