Flow control apparatus

• US 20050267439A1
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Ireland Unlimited Company (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Harr, James, Sisk, Ricky A., Gaines, Robert B., Hudson, Joseph A., Fournie, Glenn G., Allyn, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,608,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16868 Downstream occlusion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16872 Upstream occlusion sensors
• 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 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6045 having complementary physical shapes for indexing or registration purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• 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 5/1684 by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16881 Regulating valves on-off valves, e.g. clamps A61M39/28

Abstract

There is disclosed a flow control apparatus comprising a housing adapted to load an administration feeding set, and a means for driving fluid through the administration feeding set operatively engaged through the housing and adapted to engage tubing of the administration feeding set. A single motor source is operatively engaged to the means for driving fluid, such as a rotor, and adapted to be engaged to a means for controlling fluid flow, such as a valve mechanism. The single motor source is adapted to control operation of the means for driving fluid or the means for controlling fluid flow through a gear arrangement. The gear arrangement is operatively engaged with the single motor source and the means for driving fluid, as well as adapted to operatively engage the means for controlling fluid flow, and is adapted to non-simultaneously operate the means for driving fluid or the means for controlling fluid flow using a microprocessor that controls operation of at least the single motor source.

Claims

1. A flow control apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted to load an administration feeding set;

a means for driving fluid operatively engaged to and through said housing, said means for driving fluid adapted to load said administration feeding set and adapted to drive fluid through said administration feeding set,

a single motor source operatively engaged with said means for driving fluid and adapted to be operatively engaged with a means for controlling fluid flow and further adapted to control operation of said means for driving fluid or said means for controlling fluid flow,

a gear arrangement operatively engaged with said single motor source and said means for driving fluid, said gear arrangement adapted to be operatively engaged with said means for controlling fluid flow and adapted to non-simultaneously operate said means for driving fluid or said means for controlling fluid flow, and

a microprocessor for controlling operation of at least said single motor source.

2. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for driving fluid is a rotor.

3. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gear arrangement comprises a first shaft operatively engageable with said means for controlling fluid flow, a second shaft operatively engaged to said means for driving fluid, and a third shaft operatively engaged to said single motor source.

4. The flow control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said single motor source is adapted for forward and reverse operation.

5. The flow control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a change in said forward or reverse operation by said single motor source is caused by a switch in polarity of said single motor source.

6. The flow control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said microprocessor controls said switch in polarity of said single motor source.

7. The flow control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said gear arrangement has at least one of said first, second and third shafts being operatively engaged with an encoder.

8. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling fluid flow comprises a valve mechanism.

9. The flow control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said valve mechanism permits or prevents fluid flow communication through said administration feeding set.

10. The flow control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said administration feeding set comprises said valve mechanism, and said valve mechanism loads said administration feeding set to said housing.

11. The flow control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said valve mechanism permits fluid flow communication through said administration feeding set.

12. The flow control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said valve mechanism comprises a valve body having at least one inlet, an outlet, a slot, and a valve stem, said valve stem rotatably disposed within said valve body and operatively engaged with a first shaft of said gear arrangement.

13. The flow control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein operation of said valve mechanism through said first shaft is controlled by said single motor source.

14. The flow control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said valve stem is a fluid pathway in communication with at least one fluid port, said valve stem rotatable in one direction only to align said at least one fluid port in a communicative position with said at least one inlet to permit fluid flow through said valve mechanism and further rotatable in said one direction only to misalign said at least one fluid port in a non-communicative position with said at least one inlet to prevent fluid flow through said valve mechanism.

15. The flow control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said valve stem is operatively engaged with said slot through said first shaft.

16. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said administration feeding set comprises tubing.

17. The flow control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said administration feeding set comprises a valve mechanism.

18. The flow control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said administration feeding set comprises a mounting member operatively engaged with said tubing, said mounting member having at least one identification member for identifying an administration feeding set.

19. The flow control apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a software subsystem operatively associated with said microprocessor.

20. The flow control apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said software subsystem is capable of distinguishing at least two different types of administration feeding sets when said mounting member is detected by a first sensor.

21. The flow control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said mounting member comprises upper and lower portions and further wherein said at least one identification member may be attached to said upper portion and/or said lower portion of said mounting member, said at least one identification member being a magnetic member.

22. The flow control apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said first sensor comprises at least two sensor devices.

23. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said administration feeding set comprises first tubing for allowing flow of fluid leading to said means for driving fluid and second tubing for allowing flow of fluid leading away from said means for driving fluid, and further wherein a second sensor is positioned along said first tubing.

24. The flow control apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a software subsystem capable of distinguishing and determining fluid flow conditions in said administration feeding set.

25. The flow control apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said software subsystem is capable of determining an occlusion in said second tubing using a single detection point along said first tubing.

26. The flow control apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said software subsystem is capable of determining a bag empty condition.

27. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a software subsystem operatively associated with said microprocessor, said software subsystem adapted to initiate a re-certification mode within said microprocessor when said administration feeding set having a re-certification configuration is loaded to said housing.

28. The flow control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said administration feeding set is loaded to said housing.

29. The flow control apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said tubing is in a stretched condition.

32. A process for administering fluid to a patient comprising:

a) attaching one end of said tubing according to claim 16 to at least one source of fluid;

b) attaching another end of said tubing according to claim 16 to said patient; and

c) administering fluid from said at least one source of fluid to said patient using said flow control apparatus according to claim 16.

30. A flow control apparatus comprising:

a housing adapted to load an administration feeding set;

a rotor operatively engaged to and through said housing, said rotor adapted to engage tubing of said administration feeding set, said rotor further adapted to drive fluid through said tubing when said tubing is in a stretched condition,

a single motor source operatively engaged with said rotor and adapted to be operatively engaged with a valve mechanism, said single motor source being further adapted to control operation of said rotor or said valve mechanism,

a gear arrangement operatively engaged with said single motor source and said rotor, said gear arrangement adapted to be operatively engaged with said valve mechanism and adapted to non-simultaneously operate said rotor or said valve mechanism, and

a microprocessor for controlling operation of at least said single motor source.

31. The flow control apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said administration feeding set is loaded to said housing.