Unitary molded elastomer conduit for use with a medical infusion pump
First Claim
1. A unitary molded elastomer conduit for fluid transport, the conduit comprising:
- a plurality of elongated tubular sections defining a continuous lumen therethrough;
a first interior surface of the conduit associated with one of the plurality of elongated tubular sections comprising a first interior region for clamping off said lumen; and
a second interior surface of the conduit associated with another of the plurality of elongated tubular sections comprising a second interior region for coupling an ultrasonic energy signal across the conduit transverse to the lumen to characterize the fluid transport said second interior region having a textured surface relative to said first interior region effecting the propagation of the transmission of the signal energy from the signal coupled across the conduit transverse to the lumen thus enhancing the discrimination of entrained air detection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A unitary molded elastomer conduit for use with a medical infusion pump. The molded conduit includes a plurality of elongated tubular sections defining a continuous lumen therethrough. A first interior surface of the molded conduit includes an interior region having surface characteristics for clamping off the lumen to stop the flow of fluid transport, or for clamping the lumen for use with the peristaltic mechanism of the medical infusion pump. Another interior surface is provided in the molded conduit which is associated with another of the plurality of elongated sections of the integral elastomer conduit. The second interior surface defines a second interior region having surface characteristics for coupling ultrasound across the conduit traversed to the lumen in order to detect gas entrainment and the like. The second interior region thus provides a textured surface relative to the first interior region to direct the signal energy from the signal coupled across the conduit traversed to the lumen. Additionally, external features may be provided for positioning the plurality of elongated tubular sections of the conduit relative to the peristaltic pumping mechanism of the medical infusion pump for fluid transport and characterization.
178 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A unitary molded elastomer conduit for fluid transport, the conduit comprising:
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a plurality of elongated tubular sections defining a continuous lumen therethrough;
a first interior surface of the conduit associated with one of the plurality of elongated tubular sections comprising a first interior region for clamping off said lumen; and
a second interior surface of the conduit associated with another of the plurality of elongated tubular sections comprising a second interior region for coupling an ultrasonic energy signal across the conduit transverse to the lumen to characterize the fluid transport said second interior region having a textured surface relative to said first interior region effecting the propagation of the transmission of the signal energy from the signal coupled across the conduit transverse to the lumen thus enhancing the discrimination of entrained air detection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of making a unitary molded elastomer conduit for use with a medical infusion pump, the conduit comprising:
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providing a plurality of elongated tubular sections defining a continuous lumen therethrough;
molding a first interior surface of the conduit associated with one of the plurality of elongated tubular sections comprising a first interior region for clamping off said lumen;
molding a second interior surface of the conduit associated with another of the plurality of elongated tubular sections comprising a second interior region for coupling a signal across the conduit transverse to the lumen to characterize the fluid transport, said second interior region having a textured surface relative to said first interior region directing the signal energy from the signal coupled across the conduit transverse to the lumen; and
said first interior region and its associated elongated tubular section being positioned relative to the peristaltic pumping mechanism of the medical infusion pump. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of infusing a medicament with a medical infusion pump, the method comprising the steps of:
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molding a unitary elastomer conduit having a plurality of tubular sections defining a continuous lumen therethrough;
securing the conduit in a cassette for being received by the medical infusion pump;
providing a first interior surface of the conduit associated with one of the plurality of elongated tubular sections with a first interior region for clamping off the lumen;
providing a second interior surface of the conduit associated with another of the plurality of elongated tubular sections with a second interior region for coupling a signal across the conduit traversed to the lumen to characterize fluid transport;
texturing the surface relative to the first interior region to facilitate the transmission of the signal coupled across the conduit traversed to the lumen; and
receiving a liquid medicament at the conduit, the first interior region and the associated tubular section being positioned relative to the peristaltic pumping mechanism of the medical infusion pump for fluid transport through the continuous lumen defined by the plurality of elongated tubular sections of the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A medical infusion pump comprising:
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a pump chamber cassette conduit comprising a plurality of elongated tubular sections defining a continuous lumen therethrough;
a first interior surface of the conduit associated with one of the plurality of elongated tubular sections comprising a first interior region for clamping off said lumen; and
a second interior surface of the conduit associated with another of the plurality of elongated tubular sections comprising a second interior region for coupling a signal across the conduit transverse to the lumen to characterize the fluid transport, said second interior region having a textured surface relative to said first interior region directing the signal energy from the signal coupled across the conduit transverse to the lumen;
a tube for receiving a liquid medicament at the conduit, the first interior region and the associated tubular section being positioned relative to the peristaltic pumping mechanism of the medical infusion pump for fluid transport through the continuous lumen defined by the plurality of elongated tubular sections of the conduit; and
a peristaltic pump mechanism for transporting the liquid medicament across the conduit of the pump chamber cassette. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification