Apparatus and method for preventing free flow in an infusion line
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An occluder for use in an infusion set, the occluder comprising:
- a body having a proximal section and a proximal end, the proximal section and proximal end of the body being configured for disposition in the lumen of a piece of tubing of an infusion set;
an arm attached to the proximal end of the body, the arm being smaller in diameter than the lumen of the piece of tubing so as to not contact the lumen;
a stop attached to the arm and configured for disposition in the lumen of a piece of tubing of an infusion set, the stop having at least one generally annular rib formed thereon and configured for engaging the tubing to form a seal, and wherein the occluder is configured to selectively allow flow by allowing flow between the at least one generally annular rib and the tubing; and
wherein the proximal endmost portion of the body contacting the lumen of the tubing where the body joins the arm is greater in diameter than the at least one generally annular rib.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for preventing free flow through an infusion set utilizes an occluder disposed within the infusion set to selectively prevent flow therethrough. The occluder may be responsive to a pressure differential within the infusion set or may respond to compression of the infusion set. The occluder may also be configured to allow flow when the infusion set adjacent the occluder is moved sideways relative to the occluder or maintained at an angle relative to the occluder. When a pair of occluders are used in sequence, an in-line pump may be formed.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An occluder for use in an infusion set, the occluder comprising:
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a body having a proximal section and a proximal end, the proximal section and proximal end of the body being configured for disposition in the lumen of a piece of tubing of an infusion set; an arm attached to the proximal end of the body, the arm being smaller in diameter than the lumen of the piece of tubing so as to not contact the lumen; a stop attached to the arm and configured for disposition in the lumen of a piece of tubing of an infusion set, the stop having at least one generally annular rib formed thereon and configured for engaging the tubing to form a seal, and wherein the occluder is configured to selectively allow flow by allowing flow between the at least one generally annular rib and the tubing; and wherein the proximal endmost portion of the body contacting the lumen of the tubing where the body joins the arm is greater in diameter than the at least one generally annular rib. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for selectively preventing flow in an infusion set comprising:
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selecting an occluder, the occluder comprising a body having a proximal end and a distal end and a stop attached to the proximal end of the body by an arm, the arm being smaller in diameter than the body; and disposing the occluder body and stop inside the bore of an infusion set tubing such that a seal is formed between the stop and the tubing, such that the proximal end of the body engages the tubing, and such that the arm does not engage the tubing; and wherein the end of the body nearest the occluder at the location where the arm attaches to the body contacts the bore of the tubing and is larger in diameter than the stop. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for controlling flow in an infusion set comprising:
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selecting an infusion set, the infusion set having tubing with a bore therethrough; selecting an occluder having a body having a proximal end configured for disposition in the bore of the infusion set, the occluder having a stop attached to the proximal end of the body by an arm having a diameter less than an outer diameter than the stop, the stop being sufficiently large in diameter so as to form a seal between the stop and the tubing and thereby prevent flow past the stop; disposing the proximal end of the body and the stop of the occluder in the infusion set so as to prevent flow through the infusion set, and wherein, at the endmost portion of the body where the body is attached to the arm, the arm does not contact the tubing and the endmost portion of the body connected to the arm contacts the infusion set tube and is larger in diameter than the stop; disposing the infusion set in an infusion pump such that the pumping mechanism occludes flow through the tubing and such that a flow channel is created adjacent the stop so as to allow flow past the occluder. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for selectively controlling free flow in a delivery set, the method comprising:
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selecting an infusion set having tubing having a bore and having an occluder disposed in the bore of the tubing to prevent flow of solution past the occluder, the occluder having a body with an end and a stop attached to the end of the body, wherein fluid flows through the body and exits the body to flow past the stop, and wherein the end of the body attached to the stop, at the location where the fluid exits the body, contacts the bore of the tubing and is larger in diameter than the stop; mounting the infusion set into an infusion pump so as to allow flow past the occluder. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. An occluder for use in an infusion set, the occluder comprising:
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a body configured for disposition in a lumen of a piece of tubing of an infusion set; an arm attached to a proximal end of the body, the arm being smaller in diameter than the lumen of the piece of tubing so as to not contact the lumen; a stop attached to the arm and configured for disposition in the lumen of the piece of tubing of an infusion set, being configured for engaging the tubing to form a seal, and wherein the occluder is configured to selectively allow flow by allowing flow between the stop and the tubing; and wherein, at the location where the body attaches to the arm, the arm does not contact the tubing and the end of the body contacts the lumen of the tubing and is greater in diameter than the stop. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification