Re-certification system for a flow control apparatus

• US 7,794,423 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Ireland Unlimited Company (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gaines, Robert B., Knauper, Chris, Price, Jeffrey E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez; Manuel A
• Application Number:
  US10/854,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20050278054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,303 Days
• Field of Search: 604 65- 67, 604/30, 604/31, 604/32, 604/33, 604/34, 604/6.1, 604/9, 604/99.02, 604/99.03, 604/99.04, 604/167.03, 604/236, 604/237, 604/247, 604/251, 604/253, 128/DIG.12, 128/DIG.13
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/702 automatically during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers

Abstract

A flow control apparatus adapted to load a re-certification feeding set is disclosed. The flow control apparatus comprises a sensor for sensing the loading of the re-certification feeding set to the flow control apparatus, and a software subsystem in operative association with the sensor that includes a re-certification procedure for verifying that at least one component of the flow control apparatus is functioning within a predetermined operational range. Also disclosed is a method for verifying that at least one component of a flow control apparatus is functioning within a predetermined operational range.

Claims

1. A flow control apparatus comprising:

a) a flow control apparatus adapted to load with a recertification feeding set thereto,

b) a sensor for sensing the loading of said re-certification feeding set to said flow control apparatus, and

c) a software subsystem in operative association with said sensor, wherein said software subsystem comprises a re-certification procedure that is capable of verifying that at least one component of said flow control apparatus is functioning within a predetermined operational range, and further wherein the software subsystem in cooperation with the sensed re-certification feeding set places the flow control apparatus in a non-medical delivery status.

2. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said software subsystem initiates said re-certification procedure upon sensing by said sensor of said re-certification feeding set being loaded to said flow control apparatus.

3. The flow control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said re-certification feeding set comprises a mounting member.

4. The flow control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said mounting member comprises at least one identification member.

5. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said re-certification feeding set is in fluid flow communication with a fluid.

6. A flow control apparatus comprising:

a) a flow control apparatus adapted to load with a recertification feeding set thereto,

b) a sensor for sensing the loading of said re-certification feeding set to said flow control apparatus, and

c) a software subsystem in operative association with said sensor, the software subsystem in cooperation with the sensed re-certification feeding set places the flow control apparatus in a non-medical delivery status, and wherein said software subsystem initiates a re-certification procedure that verifies at least one component of said flow control apparatus is functioning within a predetermined operation range upon sensing said re-certification feeding set is loaded to said flow control apparatus by said sensor.