Cassette with infusion set containing spring-biased anti-freeflow mechanism for peristaltic infusion pump

• US 9,468,716 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2010
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Hariharesan, Seralaathan, Higgins, James Allen, West, David Woodruff
• Primary Examiner(s): McManmon, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): WADDY, JONATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US13/393,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20120266965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,294 Days
• Field of Search: 251/4, 251/5, 251/7, 251/8, 251/9, 414/440, 414/441, 414/476, 414/477.2, 414/479, 414/480, 604/151, 604/250, 267/155
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/128 with incorporated valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6045 having complementary physical shapes for indexing or registration purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/281 Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/284 Lever clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/063 Lever clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes

Abstract

Flow control devices.—In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a cassette (30) comprising a housing having a flow restrictor (34), and a tube (36) attached to the housing and positioned adjacent the flow restrictor. The flow restrictor may be so constructed and arranged to rotate from a first position in which the flow restrictor prevents fluid flow through the tube to a second position in which fluid is able to flow through the tube when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device. As a result, the cassette is designed to prevent free flow of fluid when an enteral feeding tube set is not installed in a pumping device.

Claims

1. A flow control system comprising:

a pumping device comprising an actuation member;

a cassette removably attached to the pumping device, the cassette comprising a housing and a flow restrictor comprising (i) a locking member, (ii) one peg that is attached to the housing, and (iii) a spring, the flow restrictor constructed and arranged to align with the actuation member when the cassette is positioned within the pumping device; and

a flexible tube positioned adjacent the flow restrictor and a stopper that is positioned on an opposite side of the flexible tube from the flow restrictor, the flexible tube comprising a first end attached to an inlet port and a second end attached to an outlet port of the housing, the locking member is constructed and arranged to rotate from a first resting position that restricts fluid flow through the flexible tube to a second actuated position that allows fluid to flow through the flexible tube, the locking member and the spring rotate about a common axis of rotation that is shared with the one peg, and the locking member houses the spring and includes an actuating portion and an occluding portion, the actuating portion rotating the locking member,

the actuating portion of the locking member and the actuation member of the pumping device are configured and arranged such that when the cassette is inserted into the pumping device, the actuating portion contacts the actuation member, and the actuation member is further configured and arranged to, when the cassette is continued to be inserted in the pumping device, push the actuating portion in a direction away from the stopper to rotate the locking member on the spring from the first resting position in which the occluding portion of the locking member is located proximate the stopper to the second actuated position in which the locking member applies tension to the spring, and the occluding portion of the locking member is moved away from the stopper.

2. The flow control system of claim 1, wherein the actuation member is a projection.

3. A method of controlling fluid flow in a flexible tube, the method comprising:

providing a cassette comprising a housing and a flow restrictor comprising (i) a locking member, (ii) one peg that is attached to the housing, and (iii) a spring, the housing further comprising a stopper, the flexible tube positioned adjacent the flow restrictor and the stopper that is positioned on an opposite side of the flexible tube from the flow restrictor, and the flexible tube comprising a first end attached to an inlet port and a second end attached to an outlet port of the housing, the locking member is constructed and arranged to rotate from a first resting position that restricts fluid flow through the flexible tube to a second actuated position that allows fluid to flow through the flexible tube, the locking member and the spring rotate about a common axis of rotation that is shared with the one peg, and the locking member houses the spring and includes an actuating portion and an occluding portion, the actuating portion rotating the locking member;

occluding fluid flow through the flexible tube by positioning the occluding portion at a location proximate the stopper and passing fluid through the flexible tube by positioning the occluding portion at a location away from the stopper, the occluding comprising;

inserting the cassette into a pumping device, such that the actuating portion of the locking member is brought into contact with an actuation member of the pumping device, and continued insertion of the cassette into the pumping device comprises the actuation member pushing the actuating portion in a direction away from the stopper to rotate the locking member on the spring from the first resting position in which the occluding portion of the locking member is located proximate the stopper to the second actuated position in which the locking member applies tension to the spring and the occluding portion of the locking member is moved away from the stopper.