Syringe pump and related method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A syringe pump comprising:
- a housing;
a syringe seat coupled to the housing, the syringe seat configured to retain a syringe having a barrel and a plunger disposed within the barrel;
a lead screw rotatable within the housing;
a motor coupled to the lead screw configured to rotate the lead screw;
a sliding block assembly configured for engaging with the lead screw to move along the lead screw in accordance with rotation of the lead screw, wherein the sliding block assembly comprises;
a half-nut housing having a lead screw void configured to receive the lead screw therewithin;
a half nut disposed within the half-nut housing and having half nut threads at an end adjacent to the lead screw void, the half nut is slideable between an engagement position whereby the half nut threads engage with threads of the lead screw thereby creating slack and a disengagement position whereby the half nut threads are disengaged from the threads of the lead screw, wherein the half nut includes a cam follower surface and a half nut slot; and
a barrel cam disposed within the half-nut housing and configured to engage with the cam follower surface, the barrel cam includes a pin configured to fit within the half nut slot, wherein the barrel cam is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position to actuate the half-nut between the engagement position and the disengagement position, respectively;
a plunger head assembly coupled to the sliding block assembly and configured to drive the plunger of the syringe into the barrel of the syringe, the plunger head assembly having a force sensor operatively coupled to the plunger of the syringe to measure a force of the plunger head assembly on the plunger of the syringe; and
a processor operatively coupled to the motor and configured to control the rotation of the motor to thereby control actuation of the plunger head assembly, the processor is also operatively coupled to the force sensor to receive a measured force therefrom, wherein the processor is configured to;
receive a target flow rate of the syringe loaded on the syringe pump;
determine a therapy actuation speed corresponding to the target flow rate;
command the motor to actuate the plunger of the syringe out of the barrel at a first predetermined speed until the force sensor coupled to the plunger measures a force that is less than a first predetermined force threshold;
command the motor to actuate the plunger of the syringe into the barrel at a second predetermined speed greater than the therapy actuation speed until the force sensor coupled to the plunger measures a force that exceeds a second predetermined threshold; and
command the motor to actuate the plunger of the syringe into the barrel at the therapy actuation speed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pump for administering an agent to a patient includes a housing, a syringe seat, and a bumper. The syringe seat is coupled to the housing. The bumper is coupled to the housing adjacent to the syringe seat.
362 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A syringe pump comprising:
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a housing; a syringe seat coupled to the housing, the syringe seat configured to retain a syringe having a barrel and a plunger disposed within the barrel; a lead screw rotatable within the housing; a motor coupled to the lead screw configured to rotate the lead screw; a sliding block assembly configured for engaging with the lead screw to move along the lead screw in accordance with rotation of the lead screw, wherein the sliding block assembly comprises; a half-nut housing having a lead screw void configured to receive the lead screw therewithin; a half nut disposed within the half-nut housing and having half nut threads at an end adjacent to the lead screw void, the half nut is slideable between an engagement position whereby the half nut threads engage with threads of the lead screw thereby creating slack and a disengagement position whereby the half nut threads are disengaged from the threads of the lead screw, wherein the half nut includes a cam follower surface and a half nut slot; and a barrel cam disposed within the half-nut housing and configured to engage with the cam follower surface, the barrel cam includes a pin configured to fit within the half nut slot, wherein the barrel cam is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position to actuate the half-nut between the engagement position and the disengagement position, respectively; a plunger head assembly coupled to the sliding block assembly and configured to drive the plunger of the syringe into the barrel of the syringe, the plunger head assembly having a force sensor operatively coupled to the plunger of the syringe to measure a force of the plunger head assembly on the plunger of the syringe; and a processor operatively coupled to the motor and configured to control the rotation of the motor to thereby control actuation of the plunger head assembly, the processor is also operatively coupled to the force sensor to receive a measured force therefrom, wherein the processor is configured to; receive a target flow rate of the syringe loaded on the syringe pump; determine a therapy actuation speed corresponding to the target flow rate; command the motor to actuate the plunger of the syringe out of the barrel at a first predetermined speed until the force sensor coupled to the plunger measures a force that is less than a first predetermined force threshold; command the motor to actuate the plunger of the syringe into the barrel at a second predetermined speed greater than the therapy actuation speed until the force sensor coupled to the plunger measures a force that exceeds a second predetermined threshold; and command the motor to actuate the plunger of the syringe into the barrel at the therapy actuation speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A syringe pump comprising:
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a housing; a syringe seat coupled to the housing, the syringe seat configured to retain a syringe having a barrel and a plunger disposed within the barrel; a lead screw rotatable within the housing; a motor coupled to the lead screw configured to rotate the lead screw; a sliding block assembly configured for engaging with the lead screw to move along the lead screw in accordance with rotation of the lead screw, wherein the sliding block assembly comprises; a half-nut housing having a lead screw void configured to receive the lead screw therewithin; a half nut disposed within the half-nut housing and having half nut threads at an end adjacent to the lead screw void, the half nut is slideable between an engagement position whereby the half nut threads engage with threads of the lead screw thereby creating slack and a disengagement position whereby the half nut threads are disengaged from the threads of the lead screw, wherein the half nut includes a cam follower surface and a half nut slot; and a barrel cam disposed within the half-nut housing and configured to engage with the cam follower surface, the barrel cam includes a pin configured to fit within the half nut slot, wherein the barrel cam is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position to actuate the half nut between the engagement position and the disengagement position, respectively; a plunger head assembly coupled to the sliding block assembly and configured to drive the plunger of the syringe into the barrel of the syringe, the plunger head assembly having a force sensor operatively coupled to the plunger of the syringe to measure a force of the plunger head assembly on the plunger of the syringe; and a processor operatively coupled to the motor and configured to control the rotation of the motor to thereby control actuation of the plunger head assembly, the processor is also operatively coupled to the force sensor to receive a measured force therefrom, wherein the processor is configured to; receive a target flow rate of the syringe loaded on the syringe pump; determine a therapy actuation speed corresponding to the target flow rate; command the motor to actuate the plunger of the syringe out of the barrel at a first predetermined speed until the force sensor coupled to the plunger measures a force that is less than a first predetermined force threshold or the plunger travels out of the barrel by a first predetermined distance; command the motor to actuate the plunger of the syringe into the barrel at a second predetermined speed greater than the therapy actuation speed until the force sensor coupled to the plunger measures a force that exceeds a second predetermined threshold or the plunger travels into the barrel by a second predetermined distance; and command the motor to actuate the plunger of the syringe into the barrel at the therapy actuation speed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for removing the effects of slack in a syringe pump having a syringe loaded on the syringe pump, the syringe having a barrel and a plunger disposed within the barrel, the method comprising:
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coupling a sliding block assembly with lead screw, the sliding block assembly comprising; a half-nut housing having a lead screw void configured to receive the lead screw therewithin; a half nut disposed within the half-nut housing and having half nut threads at an end adjacent to the lead screw void, the half nut is slideable between an engagement position whereby the half nut threads engage with threads of the lead screw thereby creating the slack and a disengagement position whereby the half nut threads are disengaged from the threads of the lead screw, wherein the half nut includes a cam follower surface and a half nut slot; and a barrel cam disposed within the half-nut housing and configured to engage with the cam follower surface, the barrel cam includes a pin configured to fit within the half nut slot, wherein the barrel cam is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position to actuate the half-nut between the engagement position and the disengagement position, respectively; receiving a target flow rate of the syringe loaded on the syringe pump; determining a therapy actuation speed corresponding to the target flow rate; actuating the plunger of the syringe out of the barrel by rotating the lead screw at a first predetermined speed until a force sensor coupled to the plunger measures a force that is less than a first predetermined force threshold; actuating the plunger of the syringe into the barrel by rotating the lead screw at a second predetermined speed greater than the therapy actuation speed until the force sensor coupled to the plunger measures a force that exceeds a second predetermined threshold; and actuating the plunger of the syringe into the barrel by rotating the lead screw at the therapy actuation speed. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for removing the effects of slack in a syringe pump having a syringe loaded on the syringe pump, the syringe having a barrel and a plunger disposed within the barrel, the method comprising:
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coupling a sliding block assembly with lead screw, the sliding block assembly comprising; a half-nut housing having a lead screw void configured to receive the lead screw therewithin; a half nut disposed within the half-nut housing and having half nut threads at an end adjacent to the lead screw void, the half nut is slideable between an engagement position whereby the half nut threads engage with threads of the lead screw thereby creating the slack and a disengagement position whereby the half nut threads are disengaged from the threads of the lead screw, wherein the half nut includes a cam follower surface and a half nut slot; and a barrel cam disposed within the half-nut housing and configured to engage with the cam follower surface, the barrel cam includes a pin configured to fit within the half nut slot, wherein the barrel cam is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position to actuate the half-nut between the engagement position and the disengagement position, respectively; receiving a target flow rate of the syringe loaded on the syringe pump; determining a therapy actuation speed corresponding to the target flow rate; actuating the plunger of the syringe out of the barrel at a first predetermined speed by rotating the lead screw until a force sensor coupled to the plunger measures a force that is less than a first predetermined force threshold or the plunger travels out of the barrel by a first predetermined distance; actuating the plunger of the syringe into the barrel at a second predetermined speed greater than the therapy actuation speed by rotating the lead screw until the force sensor coupled to the plunger measures a force that exceeds a second predetermined threshold or the plunger travels into the barrel by a second predetermined distance; and actuating the plunger of the syringe into the barrel at the therapy actuation speed by rotating the lead screw. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification