Drug pump systems and methods
First Claim
1. A drug pump for dispensing fluid to a patient comprising:
- a pump mechanism for pumping fluid;
a processor electrically connected to the pump mechanism;
a flash memory electrically connected to the processor for storing pump application information for control and operation of the pump mechanism;
a communication port electrically connected to the processor to permit transfer of pump application information to the flash memory from an exterior of the pump;
a communications cable sensor associated with the communications port, the communications cable sensor electrically connected with the processor, the communications cable sensor sending a signal to the processor indicative of the presence of a cable plugged into the communication port;
a reprogrammable memory electrically connected to the processor and separate from the flash memory for storing patient specific settings;
a keyboard electrically connected to the processor usable to enter the patient specific settings; and
a display electrically connected to the processor.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A menu driven reprogrammable drug pump is provided with a memory, such as flash memory, a display, a keyboard, and a communications port to allow a generic pump to be programmed with a desired pump application (therapy) program and patient specific settings. Programming and data transfer with another pump or a computer to and from the patient pump is by the communications port that allows local and/or remote communications with the pump. Flash memory stores the pump application program during use. Patient safety is provided by a cassette identification system, an occlusion detection system, and a latch/lock detection system. Automated testing of the pump is by a closed loop testing system.
1206 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A drug pump for dispensing fluid to a patient comprising:
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a pump mechanism for pumping fluid; a processor electrically connected to the pump mechanism; a flash memory electrically connected to the processor for storing pump application information for control and operation of the pump mechanism; a communication port electrically connected to the processor to permit transfer of pump application information to the flash memory from an exterior of the pump; a communications cable sensor associated with the communications port, the communications cable sensor electrically connected with the processor, the communications cable sensor sending a signal to the processor indicative of the presence of a cable plugged into the communication port; a reprogrammable memory electrically connected to the processor and separate from the flash memory for storing patient specific settings; a keyboard electrically connected to the processor usable to enter the patient specific settings; and a display electrically connected to the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A drug pump for dispensing fluid to a patient, the drug pump comprising:
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a pump mechanism; an external communication port; a processor being in electrical communication with the pump mechanism and in electrical communication with the external communication port, the processor being programmed to communicate with an external processor via the external communications port; and a sensor in electrical communication with the processor, the sensor configured to detect when a communication cable is connected to the external communication port and to send an electrical signal to the processor in response to detection of the communication cable. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A drug pump for dispensing fluid to a patient, the pump system comprising:
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a pump mechanism for pumping fluid; a microprocessor configured to control the pump; an external communications port electronically connected to the microprocessor; a sensor in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the sensor configured to detect when a communication cable is connected to the external communication port and to send an electrical signal to the microprocessor in response to detection of the communication cable; memory internal to the pump and electronically connected to the microprocessor, the memory storing a boot program and a plurality of application programs, one of the application programs being a predetermined application program; and wherein the boot program is configured to launch the predetermined application program and the application programs are configured to control operation of the pump. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of operating a pump wherein the pump includes a microprocessor and memory in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the memory storing a boot program and a plurality of application programs, one of the application programs being a predetermined pump application program, another one of the application programs being a communication program, the pump further including an external communications port, and a cable sensor both in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying power to the microprocessor and the memory; executing the boot program; launching the predetermined pump application program; executing the predetermined pump application program, wherein the predetermined pump application program controls operation of the pump; sensing with the cable sensor whether a cable is connected to the external communications port; and if the cable is sensed, launching and executing the communication program, wherein the microprocessor communicates with an external device through the cable.
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24. A drug pump for dispensing fluid to a patient, the pump comprising:
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a pump mechanism; a control system electrically connected to the pump mechanism, the control system including a processor and a keyboard, the keyboard being electrically connected to the processor, the processor being programmed to respond to predetermined keystrokes, the processor being further programmed with a plurality of access locks; and wherein each access lock, when activated, prevents the processor from responding to a set of predetermined keystrokes; wherein the pump has a first state in which the pump mechanism does not dispense fluid to the patient and second state in which the pump mechanism does dispense fluid to the patient, one of the access locks being a predetermined access lock, the processor being further configured to automatically activate the predetermined access lock when the pump changes from the first state to the second state. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method of operating a drug pump comprising the steps of:
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a) unlocking an access lock of a processor of a drug pump; b) reprogramming a memory of the drug pump connected to the processor after the access lock is unlocked; and c) after step b), automatically relocking the access lock.
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27. A drug pump for dispensing fluid to a patient, the drug pump comprising:
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a pump mechanism, the pump mechanism including a motor and a motor controller; at least one sensor; a serial communication device electrically connected to a communication port; a processor; and a data bus, the data bus providing electrical communication between the processor and the motor controller, the at least one sensor, and the serial communication device, wherein the at least one sensor is an external communication sensor, the external communication sensor configured to generate a signal when a communication cable is connected to the communication port. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A drug pump for dispensing fluid to a patient, the drug pump comprising:
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a control module, a cassette, the cassette including a pressure plate including two hooks at one end and a loop at an opposite end, a fluid reservoir and a fluid line in fluid communication with the reservoir, the pressure plate having indicia, the control module having two pins and a latch to attach the hooks and the loop, respectively, of the pressure plate to the control module, the fluid line positioned between the pressure plate and the control module; a pump mechanism on the control module configured to pump fluid from the reservoir and through the fluid line, the pump mechanism engaging the fluid line against the pressure plate; an occlusion detector on the control module configured to detect a pressure level in the fluid line; a latch sensor on the control module and configured to detect the latch in the latched state; a cassette identification sensor on the control module and configured to detect the indicia on the pressure plate; and a processor within the control module electrically connected to the pump mechanism, the occlusion detector, the latch sensor, and the cassette identification sensor, the processor configured to disable the pump mechanism upon detection of, a pressure level in the fluid line above or below a predetermined operating range, a failure to detect the latch in the latched state, or a failure to detect the indicia. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method of operating a drug pump comprising the steps of:
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a) selecting a pump operating program from a plurality of different pump operating programs stored on the drug pump; b) inputting patient specific settings to the drug pump; c) pumping fluid to a patient with the drug pump; d) linking the drug pump to a remote caregiver drug pump over a modem connection; and e) inputting a further patient specific setting to the drug pump from the caregiver drug pump over the modem connection. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification