Infusion device comprising a plurality of infusion pumps

• US 6,544,228 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: B Braun Melsungen AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: B Braun Melsungen AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Heitmeier, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US09/722,296
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 700/282, 700/283, 417/2, 417/17, 236/51, 604/30, 604/65, 604/131, 340/3, 340/5
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1408 in parallel, e.g. manifolds, sequencing valves access sites A61M39/02; tube connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1409 in series, e.g. first substance passing through container holding second substance, e.g. reconstitution systems needle sets A61M5/162
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407

Abstract

The infusion device comprises a central controller (10) and a plurality of infusion apparatus (12) each connected via a data channel (15) with the controller (10). Each infusion apparatus (12) is provided with a unique identification number. When an infusion apparatus (12) is connected to the controller (10) the identification number is requested and the controller (10) checks whether this identification number has already been allocated. If this is not the case, the controller (10) sends the inverted identification number back to the infusion apparatus (12). The infusion apparatus (12) accepts commands from the controller (10) only if the returned signal corresponds to the identification number.

Claims

1. Infusion device comprising a central controller (10) and a plurality of infusion apparatus (12) communicating via data channels (15) with the controller (10), wherein each infusion apparatus (12) is provided with a unique identification number, the controller (10) detects via the data channel (15) whether a new infusion apparatus (12) has been connected and supplies a request signal to said infusion apparatus (12), the infusion apparatus (12) transmits its identification number to the controller (10) in response to the request signal with the controller (10) checking whether this identification has already been allocated, the controller (10) supplies a signal corresponding to the identification number received to the infusion apparatus (12), and the infusion apparatus (12) determines whether the signal supplied by the controller (10) matches the identification number and accepts commands from the controller (10) only in the affirmative case.

2. Infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the identification number corresponding to the signal is a modified identification number.

3. Infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the controller (10) and the control unit (14) of the infusion apparatus (12) are of dual-channel configuration and one channel makes available the data to be transmitted, while the other channel generates a password corresponding to the data.

4. Infusion device according to claim 3, wherein the data safeguarded by the password are labelled by the identification number of the infusion apparatus (12) destined as receiver, the infusion apparatus (12) accepting the data only when they correspond to its identification number.

5. Infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the infusion apparatus (12) expects a valid sequence of communication with the controller (10) within a predetermined fault tolerance time and stops medication if said sequence of communication does not take place.

6. Infusion device according to claim 1, wherein the controller (10) is adapted to perform two modes of operation with interventions in the operation of the infusion apparatus (12) being accepted and adjustments to the controller (10) being ignored in a “

remote control”

mode of operation, and interventions in the operation of the infusion apparatus (12) being ignored and adjustments to the controller (10) being accepted in a “

remote regulation”

mode of operation.

7. Infusion device according to claim 1, wherein a key depression is detected in short intervals and the absence of the key depression within a predetermined interval is interpreted as a key no longer being pressed which results in interruption of the infusion process.