Syringe pump, and related method and system

• US 9,789,247 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Kamen, Dean, Gray, Larry B., Bodwell, Jesse T., Kerwin, John M., Baier, Michael J., van der Merwe, Dirk A., Fichera, Stephen L., Thurber, Jonathan R., Desch, Martin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US14/135,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations
• 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 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1415 Stands, brackets or the like for supporting infusion accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• 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 5/1458 Means for capture of the plunger flange
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 : electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 1/26 : Control
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 : stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 : relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage

Abstract

A method for discharging fluid from a syringe and for mitigating occlusion conditions includes actuating the plunger of a syringe into a barrel. The method monitors fluid pressure within the barrel of the syringe and determines that an occlusion exists when the fluid pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold. The method actuates the plunger out of the barrel by a predetermined amount in response to the detected occlusion and actuates the plunger of the syringe into the barrel until a measured fluid pressure within the barrel of the syringe exceeds another predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A syringe pump for administering an agent to a patient, the syringe pump comprising:

a housing;

a lead screw;

a linear cam;

a half-nut assembly having first and second half-nut arms each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of the first and second half-nut arms are configured to engage with the lead screw, the first and second half-nut arms are pivotally coupled together, the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms are configured to engage with the linear cam such that actuation of the linear cam toward the half-nut assembly causes the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms to pivotally approach each other, and the first ends of the first and second half-nut arms each includes threads configured to engage the lead screw when the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms approach each other caused by actuation of the linear cam;

a plunger head assembly coupled to said half-nut assembly and operative to drive a plunger of a syringe into a barrel of said syringe;

a first plunger flange clamp jaw; and

a second plunger flange clamp jaw,

wherein the first and second plunger flange clamp jaws are configured to be actuated from a first position to a second position.

2. The syringe pump of claim 1, wherein the plunger head assembly further comprises a pressure sensor for monitoring a pressure of the agent being dispensed from the syringe.

3. The syringe pump of claim 2, wherein a plunger flange of the syringe is held against the pressure sensor.

4. The syringe pump of claim 1, wherein the syringe pump further comprises a barrel flange clip, said barrel flange clip configured to retain a barrel flange of the syringe.

5. The syringe pump of claim 4, wherein the barrel flange clip comprises an optical sensor and a light source configured to detect a presence of the barrel flange, said light source obscured in the presence of said barrel flange.

9. The syringe pump according to claim 1, wherein the plunger head assembly includes a user actuator operatively coupled to the linear cam to actuate the linear cam toward and away from the half-nut assembly.

10. The syringe pump according to claim 1, further comprising a spacer coupled to one of the first and second half-nut arms.

11. The syringe pump according to claim 1, further comprising a pivot pin configured to provide the pivotal coupling between the first and second half-nut arms.

12. The syringe pump according to claim 1, wherein the linear cam includes two ramping surfaces configured to engaged with second ends of the first and second half-nut arms.

13. The syringe pump according to claim 1, further comprising a bias member configured to bias the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms away from each other.

14. The syringe pump according to claim 13, wherein the bias member is a spring.

6. A syringe pump for administering an agent to a patient wherein the syringe pump comprising:

a housing;

a lead screw;

a linear cam;

a half-nut assembly having first and second half-nuts arms each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of the first and second half-nut arms are configured to engage with the lead screw, the first and second half-nut arms are pivotally coupled together, the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms are configured to engage with the linear cam such that actuation of the linear cam toward the half-nut assembly causes the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms to pivotally approach each other, and the first ends of the first and second half-nut arms each includes threads configured to engage the lead screw when the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms approach each other caused by actuation of the linear cam;

a plunger head assembly coupled to said half-nut assembly and operative to drive a plunger of a syringe into a barrel of said syringe.

7. The syringe pump of claim 6, wherein the plunger head assembly further comprises a pressure sensor for monitoring a pressure of the agent being dispensed from the syringe.

8. The syringe pump of claim 7, wherein a plunger flange of the syringe is held against the pressure sensor by at least one jaw.

15. The syringe pump according to claim 6, wherein the plunger head assembly includes a user actuator operatively coupled to the linear cam to actuate the linear cam toward and away from the half-nut assembly.

16. The syringe pump according to claim 6, further comprising a spacer coupled to one of the first and second half-nut arms.

17. The syringe pump according to claim 6, further comprising a pivot pin configured to provide the pivotal coupling between the first and second half-nut arms.

18. The syringe pump according to claim 6, wherein the linear cam includes two ramping surfaces configured to engaged with second ends of the first and second half-nut arms.

19. The syringe pump according to claim 6, further comprising a bias member configured to bias the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms away from each other.

20. The syringe pump according to claim 19, wherein the bias member is a spring.