Apparatus and method for limiting free-flow in an infusion system
First Claim
1. A detachable apparatus for limiting the rate at which a fluid is supplied to a patient by a positive pressure infusion device, the infusion device having an operating device pressure of at least approximately 2 psi, the detachable apparatus comprising:
- a constrained flow segment ("CFS"), coupleable to and detachable from the infusion device for delivering fluid to the patient from the infusion device, the CFS having a length in a range of about 28 to 38 inches, an inside diameter in a range of about 0.0025 to 0.05 of an inch, and a hydraulic resistance which is a function of the length and inside diameter;
the CFS for (1) delivering fluid to the patient from the infusion device at a controlled flow rate determined by the operating device pressure and the hydraulic resistance of the CFS when the detachable apparatus is not in a free-flow condition, and (2) limiting a maximum flow rate of the detachable apparatus by the hydraulic resistance of the CFS to a range of approximately 7% to 16% of the controlled flow rate when the detachable apparatus is in a free-flow condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A detachable apparatus for limiting the rate at which a fluid is supplied to a patient by a positive pressure infusion device. The infusion device has an operating device pressure of at least approximately 2 psi. The apparatus includes a constrained flow segment (or CFS), coupleable to and detachable from the infusion device, for delivering fluid to the patient from the infusion device. The CFS has a length, an inside diameter, and a hydraulic resistance. The hydraulic resistance is a function of the length and inside diameter. When the apparatus is not in a free-flow condition, the CFS delivers fluid to the patient at a controlled flow rate determined by the operating device pressure and the hydraulic resistance of the CFS. When the apparatus is in a free-flow condition, the hydraulic resistance of the CFS limits a maximum flow rate of the apparatus to less than about 50% of the controlled flow rate. An adaptor is also provided for enabling a non-activating intravascular set ("IV set") to be used with an infusion device designed to be used only with an activating IV set. The infusion device has a detector element for detecting whether an IV set being used with the infusion device is an activating IV set. The infusion device is activated in response to detection of an activating IV set and is disabled if no such IV set is detected. The adaptor comprises an active element, independent of an IV set, for interacting with the detector element. The active element causes the detector element to detect the presence of an activating IV set when, in reality, a non-activating IV set is being used.
110 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A detachable apparatus for limiting the rate at which a fluid is supplied to a patient by a positive pressure infusion device, the infusion device having an operating device pressure of at least approximately 2 psi, the detachable apparatus comprising:
a constrained flow segment ("CFS"), coupleable to and detachable from the infusion device for delivering fluid to the patient from the infusion device, the CFS having a length in a range of about 28 to 38 inches, an inside diameter in a range of about 0.0025 to 0.05 of an inch, and a hydraulic resistance which is a function of the length and inside diameter;
the CFS for (1) delivering fluid to the patient from the infusion device at a controlled flow rate determined by the operating device pressure and the hydraulic resistance of the CFS when the detachable apparatus is not in a free-flow condition, and (2) limiting a maximum flow rate of the detachable apparatus by the hydraulic resistance of the CFS to a range of approximately 7% to 16% of the controlled flow rate when the detachable apparatus is in a free-flow condition.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A detachable apparatus for limiting the rate at which a fluid is supplied to a patient by a positive pressure infusion device, the infusion device having an operating device pressure of at least approximately 2 psi, the detachable apparatus comprising:
a constrained flow segment ("CFS"), coupleable to and detachable from the infusion device, for delivering fluid to the patient from the infusion device, the CFS having a length in a range of about 28 to 38 inches, an inside diameter in a range of about 0.0025 to 0.05 of an inch, and a hydraulic resistance which is a function of the length and inside diameter;
the CFS for (1) delivering fluid to the patient from the infusion device at a controlled flow rate determined by the operating device pressure and the hydraulic resistance of the CFS when the detachable apparatus is not in a free-flow condition, and (2) limiting a maximum flow rate of the detachable apparatus by the hydraulic resistance of the CFS to a range of approximately 30% to 60% of the controlled flow rate when the detachable apparatus is in a free-flow condition.- View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A detachable apparatus for limiting the rate at which a fluid is supplied to a patient by a positive pressure infusion device. the infusion device having an operating device pressure of at least approximately 2 psi, the detachable apparatus comprising:
a constrained flow segment ("CFS"), coupleable to and detachable from the infusion device, for delivering fluid to the patient from the infusion device, the CFS having a length in a range of about 28 to 38 inches, an inside diameter in a range of about 0.0025 to 0.05 of an inch, and a hydraulic resistance which is a function of the length and inside diameter;
the CFS for (1) delivering fluid to the patient from the infusion device at a controlled flow rate determined by the operating device pressure and the hydraulic resistance of the CFS when the detachable apparatus is not in a free-flow condition, and (2) limiting a maximum flow rate of the detachable apparatus by the hydraulic resistance of the CFS to a range of approximately 16% to 30% of the controlled flow rate when the detachable apparatus is in a free-flow condition.- View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method for limiting the rate at which fluid is supplied to a patient by a positive pressure infusion device, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) coupling a detachable constrained flow segment ("CFS") to a positive pressure infusion device having an operating device pressure of at least approximately 2 psi the CFS having a length, an inside diameter, and a hydraulic resistance which is a function of the length and the inside diameter; (b) delivering fluid to the patient at a controlled rate determined by the operating device pressure and the hydraulic resistance of the CFS when the infusion device is in a non-free-flow condition; and (C) limiting a maximum flow rate of the CFS to less than about 50% of the controlled flow rate when the CFS is in a free-flow condition. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An adaptor for enabling a non-activating intravascular set ("IV set") to be used with an infusion device, where the infusion device is configured for use with an activating IV set, the infusion device having a detector element for detecting whether an activating IV set is being used with the infusion device, the infusion device being activated in response to detection of an activating IV set such that the infusion device is disabled if the detector element fails to detect an activating IV set, the adaptor comprising:
an active element, independent of the non-activating IV set, for interacting with the detector element and causing the detector element to detect the presence of an activating IV set when the non-activating IV set is being used with the infusion device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for enabling an infusion device to be used with a non-activating intravascular set ("IV set"), where the infusion device is configured for use with an activating IV set, the system comprising:
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(a) a detector, coupled to the infusion device, for detecting whether an activating IV set is being used with the infusion device, whereby the infusion device is disabled if the detector fails to detect the presence of an activating IV set; and (b) an adaptor for enabling the infusion detector to be used with the non-activating IV set, the adaptor including an active element, independent of the non-activating IV set, for indicating to the detector the presence of an activating IV set when the non-activating IV set is actually being used with the infusion pump. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. An adaptor for enabling a non-activating intravenous set ("IV set") to be used with an infusion device, where the infusion device is configured for use with an activating IV set, the activating IV set having a constrained flow segment ("CFS") and the infusion device having a detector for detecting whether an activating IV set is being used with the infusion device, such that the infusion device is disabled if the detector fails to detect the presence of an activating IV set, the adaptor comprising:
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(a) a holder; and (b) an active element, held by the holder, for indicating to the detector that an activating IV set is present and thereby activating the infusion device when the non-activating IV set is being used with the infusion device and when the holder is placed relative to the infusion device in a manner that allows interaction between the active element and the detector. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A method for enabling a non-activating intravascular set ("IV set") to be used with an infusion device, where the infusion device is configured for use with an activating IV set, the infusion device having a detector for detecting whether an activating IV set is being used with the infusion device, such that the infusion device is disabled if the detector fails to detect the presence of an activating IV set, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a non-activating IV set in the infusion device; (b) positioning an active element relative to the detector; (c) detecting the presence of the activating IV set by the detector in response to step (b); and (d) enabling the infusion device in response to step (c).
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Specification