Patent · US Expired

Syringe infusion pump having a syringe plunger sensor

US5533981A · kind A · utility

234Cited by
19References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 6, 1994
Grant dateJul 9, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 6, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M5/1458
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An infusion pump 10 for dispensing fluid from a syringe 22 having a barrel 24 and a plunger 26 slidably inserted into the barrel 24 is disclosed. The infusion pump 10 provides a housing 12 having a bracket 18 which supports the barrel 24. A syringe driver 20 is movably attached to the housing 12 such that the syringe driver 20 abuts the plunger 26 to slide the plunger 26 into the barrel 24. A sensor is provided for sensing both the position of the plunger 26 relative to the barrel 24 and the capture of the plunger 26 in the syringe driver 20. Control circuitry is electrically connected to the sensor for determining the capture and position of the plunger 26. The sensor comprises a potentiometer 46 attached to the housing 12 and electrically connected to the control circuitry. The sensor further comprises a wiper 44 supported by the syringe driver 20. The wiper 44 operatively contacts the potentiometer 46 such that the control circuitry receives an output signal from the potentiometer to determine the position of the plunger 26 and the capture of the syringe driver 20 in the plunger 26.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.