Valve system and method for control of an infusion pump
US5472420A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 5, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/12
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A valve system to control administration of fluids from an infusion pump to a patient when the height of the pump relative to the patient is varied, the system comprises a valve which pinches closed the flexible disposable tube that communicates between the pump and the patient unless a minimum pressure is attained in the pump's fluid reservoir. Once the minimum pressure is reached the valve stays open until the pressure in the reservoir drops below a predetermined value which is lower than the minimum "open" pressure. The pressure of the fluid is measured by a sensor pressed against the outside of the reservoir and the valve closes the tube only by externally forcing one external wall against the opposite wall and does not contact the fluid. A method is disclosed for controlling fluid flow of fluids by mechanically closing the tube between the infusion pump and the patient unless a certain minimum pressure is attained in the fluid reservoir and closing the tube again only when the pressure in the reservoir drops to below a certain lower value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.