Systems and methods for analyzing an infusion pump

• US 10,100,828 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lloyd Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lloyd Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Littich, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolduc, David
• Application Number:
  US15/486,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20170298929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3337 Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/02 Equipment for testing the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• 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: F04B 1/02 having two cylinders in V-arrangement F04B1/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 13/00 Pumps specially modified to deliver fixed or variable measured quantities
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/00 Pumping installations or systems pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors F04B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/10 Valves; Arrangement of valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/14 Pistons, piston-rods or piston-rod connections
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 7/0046 for rotating distribution members
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 7/04 : in which the valving is performed by pistons and cylinders coacting to open and close intake or outlet ports
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/074 : with flat sealing faces
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/04 : using a motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/042 : with electric means, e.g. for controlling the motor or a clutch between the valve and the motor

Abstract

Systems and methods for analyzing an infusion pump are provided. One infusion pump analyzer includes a fluid flow path configured to be coupled to an infusion pump to be tested and a pair of fluid chambers. The infusion pump analyzer further includes dual linear piston pumps coupled with the pair of fluid chambers and the fluid flow path to control the flow of fluid therethrough, and a valve coupled with the pair of fluid chambers and configured to rotate to selectively fill and drain the pair of fluid chambers.

Claims

1. An infusion pump analyzer comprising:

a fluid flow path configured to be coupled to an infusion pump to be tested;

a pair of fluid chambers;

dual linear piston pumps coupled with the pair of fluid chambers and the fluid flow path to control the flow of fluid therethrough; and

a valve coupled with the pair of fluid chambers and configured to rotate to selectively fill and drain the pair of fluid chambers.

2. The infusion pump analyzer of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a stator and rotor that define the rotation, the rotor configured as a disc having two slots formed therein defining two passageways.

3. The infusion pump analyzer of claim 2, wherein the stator comprises a ceramic stator having no seals therein.

4. The infusion pump analyzer of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises two flats that define the rotation.

5. The infusion pump analyzer of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to rotate 90 degrees.

6. The infusion pump analyzer of claim 1, further comprising a single motor coupled to the dual linear piston pumps and a single motor coupled to the valve.

7. The infusion pump analyzer of claim 1, wherein the dual linear piston pumps and the valve are configured to uncouple valving and pumping operations.

8. The infusion pump analyzer of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor within the fluid flow path such that fluid flows across a wide surface of the pressure sensor.

9. The infusion pump analyzer of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to control fluid flow such that one of the pair of fluid chambers is filling while the other one of the pair of fluid chambers is draining.

10. The infusion pump analyzer of claim 1, wherein the dual linear piston pumps comprise a pair of pistons that are mechanically coupled to each other.

11. A method of controlling fluid metering for an infusion pump analyzer, the method comprising:

starting linear motion of dual linear pistons in a first linear direction to drain one fluid chamber and fill another fluid chamber through passageways aligned with openings in a valve;

stopping linear motion of the dual linear pumps when the draining and filling that define exhaust and intake phases, respectively, are completed;

performing a valve cycle that causes a portion of the valve to rotate in a first direction to align the passageways with a different respective pair of openings;

stopping the valve cycle, such that rotation of the valve is stopped;

starting linear motion of the dual linear pistons in a second linear direction, the second linear direction being opposite to the first linear direction that caused filling and draining of the fluid chambers that were drained and filled, respectively, when the dual linear pistons were moved in the first linear direction;

stopping linear motion of the dual linear pumps when the draining and filling that define exhaust and intake phases, respectively, are completed;

performing a valve cycle that causes a portion of the valve to rotate in a second direction to align the passageways with a different respective pair of openings, the second direction being either the same or opposite to the first direction; and

stopping the valve cycle, such that rotation of the valve is stopped.