Infusion pump

• US 5,330,431 A
• Filed: 03/12/1993
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Glenn Herskowitz
• Original Assignee: Glenn Herskowitz
• Inventors: Herskowitz, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISS, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/030,782
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 604/153, 604/131, 604/151, 604/259, 604/262, 604/165, 222/101
• US Class Current: 604/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/148 flexible, e.g. independent bagsA61M5/155 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers

Abstract

An infusion pump for use with standard pre-filled single dose IV bags. The pump includes a housing having a lid which opens and closes so that the IV bag can be inserted and supported in a delivery mode position. A platen surface is positioned along one side of the bag while a compression roller is mounted for movement along the other side of the bag. A control circuit actuates drive means which moves the compression roller in a direction towards a dispensing port of the bag while the roller applies force for expelling solution from the bag. Forward movement of the pressure roller is controlled to maintain solution pressure within the bag at a predetermined level. Electromechanical indicators, alarms and interlock features are provided for purposes of safety and for monitoring the infusion process.

Claims

1. An infusion pump for use with a flexible bag containing a prepackaged intravenous solution, said bag having first and second ends and first and second sidewalls, the first end having a dispensing port adapted for discharging the solution through intravenous tubing for delivery to a patient, said pump comprising the combination of a housing, support means carried by the housing for supporting said bag in a delivery mode position, platen means carried by the housing for providing a platen surface which is positionable along said first sidewall of the bag, compression roller means within the housing for applying a compression force against said second sidewall of the bag with the first sidewall juxtaposed against said platen surface for producing pressure in said intravenous solution within the bag, drive means for moving the compression roller in a direction toward said dispensing port of the bag while said compression force is being applied for expelling solution from the bag through the dispensing port, and control means for controlling the drive means to move the compression roller in said direction for controlling said pressure in the solution, said control means including means for sensing the level of fluid pressure of the solution within the bag, and means responsive to said means for sensing the level of fluid pressure for operating said drive means to move the compression roller at a rate toward said dispensing port which maintains said fluid pressure substantially at a predetermined level.

2. An infusion pump for use with a flexible bag containing a prepackaged intravenous solution, said bag having first and second ends and first and second sidewalls, the first end having a dispensing port adapted for discharging the solution through intravenous tubing for delivery to a patient, said pump comprising the combination of a housing, support means carried by the housing for supporting said bag in a delivery mode position, platen means carried by the housing for providing a platen surface which is positionable along said first sidewall of the bag, compression roller means within the housing for applying a compression force against said second sidewall of the bag with the first sidewall juxtaposed against said platen surface for producing pressure in said intravenous solution within the bag, drive means for moving the compression roller in a direction toward said dispensing port of the bag while said compression force is being applied for expelling solution from the bag through the dispensing port, control means for controlling the drive means to move the compression roller in said direction for controlling said pressure in the solution, said housing including a base and lid and means for mounting the lid for movement between open and closed positions relative to the base, together with means for releasably holding an end of said intravenous tubing against displacement from said housing when the lid is moved to its closed position and when said end of the tubing is positioned in solution-receiving relationship with said dispensing port of the bag, said means for releasably holding said end of the intravenous tubing including first groove means formed in said lid and second groove means formed in said base with said first and second groove means being in juxtaposed relationship when the lid is moved to its closed position and with said end of the intravenous tubing being insertable within a portion of said dispensing port which is in seated position between the first and second groove means when said groove means are in said juxtaposed relationship.

3. An infusion pump as in claim 2 for use with intravenous tubing having a filling spike which is formed with a recess, said pump further comprising means forming a ridge on said first groove means with the dispensing port and said spike of the intravenous tubing being pressed together in clamping relationship between said ridge and recess when the lid is in its closed position.

4. An infusion pump as in claim 2 for use with intravenous tubing having a filling spike which is formed with a recess, said pump further comprising means forming an additional ridge on said second groove means with the dispensing port and said spike of the intravenous tubing being pressed together in clamping relationship between said additional ridge and recess when the lid is in its closed position.

5. A method of infusing intravenous solution from a flexible bag through tubing into a patient, the bag having first and second ends with the first end having a dispensing port adapted for discharging solution, the method comprising the steps of holding the second end of the bag in a fixed position, bending the bag over a diaphragm having a curved surface with the sidewalls of the bag adjacent the second end being brought together over the curved surface with the solution contained therebetween being forced towards said first end, holding said first end of the bag in a delivery position with an end of the tubing inserted in said dispensing port, applying a compression force between the sidewalls of the bag to pressurize the solution therein for forcing the solution through the dispensing port and into the tubing, the step of applying the compression force including holding said side walls of the bag between a platen surface and a compression roller while forcing the compression roller toward the platen surface, and a step of sensing solution pressure within the bag and controlling movement of the compression roller toward said dispensing port at a rate which is predetermined function of the pressure which is sensed in the solution.