Infusion system having plural fluid flow lines

• US 5,304,126 A
• Filed: 12/31/1990
• Issued: 04/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hospira Incorporated (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Strohl, Clair, Epstein, Paul, LaWhite, Eric, Coyne, Henry, Petschek, Harry, Kaleskas, Edward, Adaniva, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US07/636,059
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 128/DIG. 12, 128/DIG. 13, 604/65-67, 604/152, 604/158
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1402 Priming
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/13 Infusion monitoring

Abstract

An infusion system for administering multiple infusates at individually programmable rates, volumes, and sequences in any order from any one or more of plural fluid input ports through a patient output port and into the circulatory system of a patient. Infusates may be either continuously or time sequentially administered, and infusates may be either intermittently administered at selectively regular intervals or in time overlap to administer a dilution. Various error conditions are automatically detected and alarms generated in the event of conflicts between infusates, to identify times of no infusions, and to identify system malfunctions. The system is selectively operable, among others, in a priming mode, a maintenance mode, a normal-on mode, and a manual override mode. The system is operative to adapt actual to desired flow rates in normal operation. All fluids flow through a unitary disposable cassette without making any other system contact. Air bubbles in the fluid line are automatically detected and disposed of. Fluid pressures are monitored and system operation adjusted as a function of such pressures. Infusates may be administered from syringes as well as from standard bag or bottle containers. Infusate from a selected input port may be controllably pumped into a syringe for unsticking the syringe plunger. The system is selectively operable to adjust total fluid volume and rate to below preselected values for patients whose total fluid intake must be restricted. The system is operable to maintain an accurate record of total infusion history.

Claims

1. An infusion system for infusing fluids into a patient comprising:

a housing;

a controller within the housing for control of an infusion through selectable plural fluid input channels;

a disposable cassette structure releasably mounted to the housing and having;

a fluid input port and a fluid output port;

a first rigid portion having at least one surface, a fluid channel recessed in the surface and extending from the input port to the output port, a pump chamber, and a pressure chamber integrally formed in the fluid channel;

a second rigid portion attached to the first rigid portion over the surface; and

a resilient diaphragm disposed between the first and second rigid portions to overlay the fluid channel, and including a first portion over the pump chamber and a second portion over the pressure chamber; and

a pressure sensing member operatively connected to the controller and mounted in alignment with the pressure chamber to sense pressure variations in the pressure chamber.

2. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein the pressure chamber is located downstream from the pump chamber.

3. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes means for retaining the first and second rigid portions to the housing.

4. The infusion system of claim 1, wherein the retaining means comprises a flange member.

5. The infusion system of claim 1, further comprising means for preventing collapse of the resilient diaphragm into contact with an opposed face of the pressure chamber.

6. An infusion system for infusing fluid from plural sources into a patient comprising:

a plurality of fluid input channels for each receiving a selected infusate from a corresponding one of plural sources;

a pump for pumping fluid through each input channel to the patient;

a controller for selectively controlling parameters of rate, volume, and duration of pumping for each of the channels in any order, the controller including means for generating a status signal representative of status of each channel including;

pumping at a programmed rate;

pumping stopped; and

pumping at a keep-vein-open rate, the controller further including means for including in the status signal a signal representative of the rate of pumping for each channel;

a valve corresponding to each input channel and formed in a disposable controller-mounted cassette the valve selectably opened and closed by the controller according to rate, volume, and duration of pumping in the corresponding channel;

a display operatively connected to the controller; and

the controller further including means for sending the status signal representative of the status of each channel and the rate of pumping for each channel to the display for display thereon.

7. The infusion system of claim 6 wherein the rate of pumping display portion displays rate of pumping in milliliters per hour.

8. An infusion system for infusing fluids into a patient comprising:

plural fluid input flow channels respectively connected to plural sources of fluids intended for infusion to a patient;

a housing having a pump actuator for pumping fluid along an infusion path from a selectable fluid source to the patient through the corresponding fluid input flow channel;

the infusion path being defined by a disposable cassette structure releasably and lockably mounted on the housing for interactive cooperation therewith, the cassette structure comprising at least one first wall defining at least one recess and a second wall confronting the recess to define an enclosed space and including a resilient diaphram disposed to overlay said recess in fluid communication with the infusion path;

a controller operable to control the rate, volume, and duration of pumping along the plural input flow channels and along the cassette-defined infusion path to provide controlled flow in any one thereof;

said controller adapted for pressure monitoring in the enclosed space;

means for detecting alarm conditions in response to pressure monitors, the alarm conditions including at least one of an occlusion in the infusion path, air in the infusion path, and failure of proper mounting and locking to the housing; and

means for generating an alarm signal in response to the detection of an alarm condition.

9. The infusion system of claim 8, wherein the alarm condition detecting means includes means for sending a signal representative of the type of alarm condition to the controller, and the controller is responsive to control the pumping along the infusion path as a function of the alarm condition.

10. An infusion system for infusing plural fluids into a patient along a plurality of input channels comprising:

a unitary housing;

a unitary controller disposed within the housing for controlling the infusion along a plurality of input channels;

a first pump portion integral to said housing and operatively connected to the controller for pumping fluid to be infused from one of the channels along an infusion flow path to the patient;

a disposable cassette releasably mounted to the housing, comprising a second pump portion cooperative with the first pump portion, at least a portion of the infusion flow path being disposable cassette-located;

at least one cassette-located valve operatively connected to the controller for enabling and disabling flow through a corresponding input channel to the infusion flow path;

the valve and the pump portions being controlled by the controller to control flow parameters including rate of pumping, duration of pumping, and volume of fluid to be pumped through the cassette; and

means for providing operator selection of at least one of the parameters for each input channel through the controller.

11. An infusion system for infusing fluids into a patient comprising:

a housing;

a controller within the housing for control of an infusion through selectable plural fluid input channels;

a fluid input port and a fluid output port disposed for directing fluid through the housing;

a first disposable rigid portion having at least one surface, a fluid channel recessed in the surface and extending from the input port to the output port, a pump chamber, and a pressure chamber integrally formed in the fluid channel;

a second disposable rigid portion attached to the first rigid portion over the surface, the first and second rigid portions being releasably mounted to the housing;

a resilient disposable diaphragm located between the first and second rigid portions to overlay the fluid channel, and including a first portion over the pump chamber and a second portion over the pressure chamber;

a pump actuator member operatively connected to the controller and disposed within the housing in alignment with the pump chamber to control pumping through the fluid channel; and

a pressure sensing member operatively connected to the controller and disposed within the housing in alignment with the pressure chamber to sense pressure variations in the pressure chamber.