Volumetric infusion pump with automatic tube loader
First Claim
1. In an infusion pump operative to pump a fluid through a tube, an automatic tube loader for loading said tube and said tube having a slide clamp associated therewith said automatic tube loader comprising means for releasably retaining said slide clamp operative to selectably open and close said slide clamp.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical infusion pump is disclosed which provides for greatly improved accuracy in the delivery of medicaments to a patient. Among the various features included in the instant invention is a pumping body which serves to deform and reform a tube so as to maintain the initial cross-section thereof and thereby preserve the output accuracy of the pump. Also disclosed with regard to the pumping body is a wholly mechanical synchronization of the pumping body and valves associated therewith and coactive with the aforementioned synchronization a mechanical linearization of output of the pumping body per each pumping cycle. Additionally, several features which serve to enhance the utility of the instant invention are also included therein among which is an associated assembly operative to automatically load or disload a tube or IV set into or out of the pumping body. Associated with the assembly operative to automatically load or disload a tube and disclosed herein is an assembly operative to selectively open or close a slide clamp associated with the tube in such a way as to ensure that the tube is occluded such that in combination with the valves associated with the pumping body, a condition of free-flow of medicament is never realized. Additionally disclosed are sensor housings adapted to measure various quantities associated with fluid flowing through the tube wherein the housings are with associated components adapted to achieve a substantially normal orientation with respect to the sidewall of the tube and in the achieving of such normal orientation, expressing an essentially zero elastic stress gradient across the tube.
41 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. In an infusion pump operative to pump a fluid through a tube, an automatic tube loader for loading said tube and said tube having a slide clamp associated therewith said automatic tube loader comprising means for releasably retaining said slide clamp operative to selectably open and close said slide clamp.
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16. A method for determining the position of a slide clamp in an infusion pump, the infusion pump having a tube associated therewith and a slide clamp associated with said tube, said method comprising the following steps:
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1. wherein said tube has a location, fixing said location; 2. wherein said infusion pump has a plurality of sensors adapted to receive a slide clamp into association therewith, emplacing said slide clamp amongst said sensors; 3. wherein said sensors have a high state associated with the absence of said slide clamp and a low state associated with the presence of said slide clamp, noting the states of said plurality of sensors; 4. wherein said plurality of sensors are arranged in specific positions, noting the positions of the various sensors; 5. correlating the state of each of said sensors with the position of said sensor; 6. correlating said state and position information into indicia of said position of said slide clamp.
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Specification