Valve system and method for control of an infusion pump
First Claim
1. A system to control fluid flow from a fluid-containing reservoir in an infusion pump to a patient through a tube, the system comprising:
- pressure sensing means for sensing the pressure of the fluid within the reservoir;
valve means associated with the tube for reversibly restricting fluid flow through the tube, the valve means communicating with the pressure sensing means and being actuated between an open position and a closed position as a result of changes in the pressure of the fluid within the reservoir as detected by the sensing means.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valve system to control administration of fluids from an infusion pump to a patient when the height of the pump relative to the patient is varied. The system comprises a valve which pinches closed the flexible disposable tube that communicates between the pump and the patient unless a minimum pressure is attained in the pump'"'"'s fluid reservoir. Once the minimum pressure is reached the valve stays open until the pressure in the reservoir drops below a predetermined value which is lower than the minimum "open" pressure. The pressure of the fluid is measured by a sensor pressed against the outside of the reservoir and the valve closes the tube only by externally forcing one external wall against the opposite wall and does not contact the fluid. A method is disclosed for controlling fluid flow of fluids by mechanically closing the tube between the infusion pump and the patient unless a certain minimum pressure is attained in the fluid reservoir and closing the tube again only when the pressure in the reservoir drops to below a certain lower value.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system to control fluid flow from a fluid-containing reservoir in an infusion pump to a patient through a tube, the system comprising:
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pressure sensing means for sensing the pressure of the fluid within the reservoir; valve means associated with the tube for reversibly restricting fluid flow through the tube, the valve means communicating with the pressure sensing means and being actuated between an open position and a closed position as a result of changes in the pressure of the fluid within the reservoir as detected by the sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for control of fluid flow from a fluid-containing reservoir in an infusion pump to a patient through a flexible tube, the system comprising:
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a pressure sensing transducer associated with the pump for detecting changes in the pressure of the fluid in the reservoir; a valve associated with the tube, the valve having an open position allowing fluid flow through the tube and a closed position prohibiting fluid flow, the valve being isolated from the interior of the tube and the fluid which flows therethrough; and
,logic circuitry communicating between the transducer and the valve for actuating the valve between open and closed positions in response to changes in the pressure of the fluid within the reservoir, and wherein the logic circuitry actuates the valve to an open position from a closed position when the pressure of the fluid within the reservoir increases to above a first predetermined value and from an open position to a closed position when the pressure falls below a second predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification