Disposable cassette for connection to a liquid drug infusion pump

• US 6,106,498 A
• Filed: 03/18/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Disetronic Licensing Ag
• Inventors: Skakoon, James G., Friedli, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYES, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US08/981,329
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 604/65, 604/67, 604/131, 604/153, 604/189, 604/246, 604/247, 604/256, 128/DIG. 12, 417/477.9, 417/477.2, 417/474, 417/63, 417/479
• US Class Current: 604/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/08 Tubes; Storage means specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626

Abstract

The disposable cassette for use with a liquid drug infusion pump comprises a cassette body (1) with a flexible pump tube (2) between an inlet (3) for connection to a drug reservoir on the upstream side and an outlet (4) for delivery of the drug to a medical patient on the downstream side; a pressure detector membrane (18) operatively connectable to said infusion pump having means to measure the pressure in the fluid circuit of the cassette; a passive valve (7) having a pre-stress producing a forward opening pressure of at least 0.15 bar, and an optical code (6) located on the cassette body (1) for recognition of the cassette by said infusion pump.

Claims

1. Disposable cassette for use with a liquid drug infusion pump, comprising:

a cassette body with a flexible pump tube having an inlet for connection to a drug reservoir on the upstream side, said cassette body having an outlet for delivery of the drug to a patient on the downstream side;

a pressure detector membrane operatively connectable to the infusion pump, the pump having means to measure the pressure in the fluid circuit of the cassette;

a passive valve having a pre-stress producing a forward opening pressure of at least 0.15 bar;

an optical code located on the cassette body for recognition of the cassette by said infusion pump; and

an air detector chamber located in the cassette body, said air detector chamber being operably connectable to the infusion pump.

2. Disposable cassette according to claim 1, further comprising means for orienting and holding the cassette in relation to the pump to which it is connectable.

3. Disposable cassette according to claim 2, wherein said passive valve has a pre-stress producing a forward opening pressure between 0.15 and 0.50 bar.

4. Disposable cassette according to claim 2, wherein said passive valve is comprised of a circular membrane with a center hole, the circumference there of operating as an active seal lip.

5. Disposable cassette according to claim 4, wherein said circular membrane has a flange on the outer diameter, said flange forming a static seal.

6. Disposable cassette according to claim 5, wherein said circular membrane is a single injection molded rubber part.

7. Disposable cassette according to claim 2, wherein said passive valve is located in said cassette body.

8. Disposable cassette according to claim 2, wherein the infusion pump includes a pumping mechanism, said flexible pump tube squeezable by said pumping mechanism to produce a peristaltic pumping action.

9. Disposable cassette according to claim 2, wherein said flexible pump tube has integral transverse flanges, said flanges forming compression seals in the assembled cassette.

10. Disposable cassette according to claim 2, wherein said flexible pump tube is made as a single injection molded rubber part.

11. Disposable cassette according to claim 2, wherein said pressure detector membrane has a flange on its outer diameter, said flange comprising a static seal, and further wherein the surface of said pressure detector member is substantially flat, thereby having substantially no effect on the pressure coupling from said cassette to the infusion pump.

12. Disposable cassette according to claim 2, wherein said passive valve prevents back flow, thereby allowing said means to measure the pressure located in said infusion pump to detect an occlusion on the input side of said cassette.

13. Disposable cassette according to claim 2, wherein said optical code is one of a plurality of codes, said code corresponding to a plurality of cassettes each with a different operating number.

14. Disposable cassette according to claim 13, wherein an operating parameter of the pump is a volumetric output per pump cycle and wherein the inside diameter of the tube may be selected to provide a selected volumetric output per pump cycle.

15. Disposable cassette according to claim 2, wherein said air detection chamber includes an optically reflective and transmissive surface for air and liquid, respectively.

16. Disposable cassette according to claim 15, wherein said cassette body includes at least one optically reflective surface for reflecting light from or to said infusion pump.

17. Disposable cassette according to claim 2, wherein said locating means is comprised of a set of hooks, on said infusion pump, a set of plateaux, on said cassette body, mating to said hooks, and a positioning spring action, said spring action reversibly forcing said cassette body into proper position between said hooks and said plateaux.

18. An assembly comprising the disposable cassette according to claim 2 and an infusion pump to which said disposable cassette is connected.

19. Assembly according to claim 18, wherein said means to measure the pressure includes a pressure detector.

20. Assembly according to claim 18, wherein said infusion pump has a light source and at least one light sensor, said source and sensor cooperatively functioning with said air detector chamber to detect the presence of air or liquid and wherein said cassette body includes a surface optically reflective and optically transmissive for air and liquid, respectively.

21. Assembly according to claim 18, wherein said infusion pump has a light source and two light sensors, said cassette body having one reflective surface to reflect light from said source toward said air detector chamber, said chamber having a surface optically reflective and optically transmissive for air and liquid, respectively, said cassette body having a second reflective surface to reflect light transmitted by said surface toward one of said sensors, said reflective or transmissive surface reflecting light toward the other of said two sensors.

22. A disposable cassette for use with a liquid drug infusion pump, comprising:

a cassette body with an inlet and an outlet and a single, generally linear fluid flow path extending between said inlet and outlet;

a pressure detector member operably carried by the cassette body generally between the inlet and outlet and operably connectable to a pressure detector associated with the pump; and

a passive valve with a crack pressure operably carried by the cassette body, said valve generally between the pressure detector member and the outlet.

23. The disposable cassette according to claim 22, wherein said cassette body substantially defines the flow path which extends generally from said inlet, past said pressure detector member, through said valve, and to said outlet, said flow path generally linear, and including at least one offset portion.

24. The disposable cassette according to claim 22, wherein said valve has an inlet and a generally central axis, said inlet offset from said generally central axis.

25. The disposable cassette according to claim 24, wherein said valve comprises a valve housing coupled to the cassette body, said valve housing and cassette body defining a chamber for receiving a valve membrane having an opening generally coaxial with said generally central axis.

26. A disposable cassette for use with a liquid drug infusion pump, comprising:

a cassette body with a flexible pump tube between an inlet for connection to a drug reservoir and an outlet for delivery of a drug to a patient, said cassette body substantially defining a fluid flow path with an offset region;

a pressure detector membrane carried by said cassette body and operably connectable to a pressure detector;

a passive, one way valve carried by said cassette body and having a crack pressure in the direction of the outlet;

an optical cassette recognition system carried on the cassette body for recognition of the cassette and comprising a plurality of prisms for receiving light from a light source and for reflecting light back to a plurality of sensors, and a light blocking label for creating pre-selected paths of reflected light, thereby identifying the cassette; and

an air detector chamber associated with the cassette body.

27. The disposable cassette according to claim 26, further comprising means for orienting and holding the cassette in relation to the pump.

28. The disposable cassette according to claim 27, wherein said means for orienting and holding comprises a plurality of hooks carried on the pump and a plurality of legs carried on said cassette body, said legs complementary to said hooks.

29. The disposable cassette according to claim 28, and means for urging said cassette body into proper position with respect to the pump.

30. The disposable cassette according to claim 29, said means for urging comprising at least one spring operably carried by one of the pump and cassette.

31. The disposable cassette according to claim 26, wherein said air detector chamber comprises a surface optically reflective when air is in contact with said surface and optically transmissive when liquid is in contact with said surface.

32. The disposable cassette according to claim 26, wherein said cassette body has one associated reflective surface to reflect light toward said air detector chamber, said chamber having another surface optically reflective when air is in contact with said another surface and optically transmissive when liquid is in contact with said another surface, said cassette body having a second associated reflective surface to reflect light transmitted by said another surface toward a sensors, said another surface reflecting light toward a different sensor.