Syringe infusion pump having a syringe plunger sensor
First Claim
1. An infusion pump for dispensing fluid from a syringe, the syringe having a barrel with a plunger slidably inserted into the barrel, the infusion pump comprising:
- a housing which supports the barrel;
a syringe driver in movable contact with the housing, the syringe driver abutting the plunger to slide the plunger into the barrel;
means connected to the housing and the syringe driver for sensing both the position of the plunger relative to the barrel and the abutment of the syringe driver with the plunger, the means comprising a single sensor; and
a control circuit electrically connected to the means for sensing to control the movement of the syringe driver.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An infusion pump 10 for dispensing fluid from a syringe 22 having a barrel 24 and a plunger 26 slidably inserted into the barrel 24 is disclosed. The infusion pump 10 provides a housing 12 having a bracket 18 which supports the barrel 24. A syringe driver 20 is movably attached to the housing 12 such that the syringe driver 20 abuts the plunger 26 to slide the plunger 26 into the barrel 24. A sensor is provided for sensing both the position of the plunger 26 relative to the barrel 24 and the capture of the plunger 26 in the syringe driver 20. Control circuitry is electrically connected to the sensor for determining the capture and position of the plunger 26.
The sensor comprises a potentiometer 46 attached to the housing 12 and electrically connected to the control circuitry. The sensor further comprises a wiper 44 supported by the syringe driver 20. The wiper 44 operatively contacts the potentiometer 46 such that the control circuitry receives an output signal from the potentiometer to determine the position of the plunger 26 and the capture of the syringe driver 20 in the plunger 26.
279 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An infusion pump for dispensing fluid from a syringe, the syringe having a barrel with a plunger slidably inserted into the barrel, the infusion pump comprising:
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a housing which supports the barrel; a syringe driver in movable contact with the housing, the syringe driver abutting the plunger to slide the plunger into the barrel; means connected to the housing and the syringe driver for sensing both the position of the plunger relative to the barrel and the abutment of the syringe driver with the plunger, the means comprising a single sensor; and a control circuit electrically connected to the means for sensing to control the movement of the syringe driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A sensor for determining the capture of a syringe plunger in a plunger seat and the position of the syringe plunger in a syringe barrel, the sensor comprising:
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a linear potentiometer having an excitation voltage applied to the linear potentiometer; a wiper contacting the linear potentiometer at a contact point when the syringe plunger is captured in the plunger seat, the contact point moving along the linear potentiometer as the syringe plunger slides in the syringe barrel; and an output signal from the linear potentiometer, the output signal indicating the capture of the syringe plunger in the plunger seat and the position of the syringe plunger. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for controlling the dispensing of medication from a syringe loaded onto a syringe infusion pump comprising the steps of:
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providing a plunger seat; positioning a syringe plunger in the plunger seat; moving a wiper in contact with a potentiometer when the syringe plunger is properly positioned in the plunger seat; sending an electrical signal from the potentiometer to a control circuit that indicates both the capture of the syringe plunger in the plunger seat and the position of the syringe plunger in the syringe barrel; sliding the syringe plunger into a syringe barrel to dispense the medication; and moving the wiper along the potentiometer while the wiper contacts the potentiometer.
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Specification