INFUSION PUMP WITH DISPOSABLE TUBING AND SIZE INDICATING MEANS

Abstract: This invention is a peristaltic pump which includes a tubing set (100) and a pump adapted to receive the tubing set. The tubing set includes an elbow (105) with indicating tabs for indicating the size of the tubing set. The pump determines the size of the tubing set from the indicating tabs.

Description: INFUSION PUMP WITH DISPOSABLE TUBING AND SIZE INDICATING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to infusion pumps, and, in particular, to methods and apparatuses for improved peristaltic infusion pumps having disposable tubmg sets Description of the Related Art Infusion pumps are typically used to deliver fluids, generally pharmaceuticals, nutritionals, or other medication, to patients A variety of such medication infusion pumps have been employed for the intravenous infusion of medication Important features of infusion pumps include disposability to prevent cross-contamination, accuracy, safety, ease of use, versatility, and reliability Peristaltic infusion pumps which function by repetitively compressing a resilient section of tubmg with a pump motor are the preferred infusion devices Unfortunately, known infusion pumps suffer from a number of disadvantages In particular, known infusion pumps are relatively limited in the range of infusion rates they are able to accurately achieve For example, at least two different sizes of infusion pumps are typically required to cover infusion rates from 0 01 ml/hr to 500 ml/hr to accommodate the different tubing sizes necessary to cover the broad range of pumping rates As a result, there is a need for a single pump adapted to accommodate the different tubing sizes required to cover a broad range of pumping rates Moreover, any such system should have integral fail-safe mechanisms to ensure that the pump operates at the correct rate for the tubing size placed m the pump Also, such a system should be adapted to momtor the pressure in the pump tubing, regardless of the tubing size, to detect any downstream occlusion In addition, since the tubing typically used in infusion pumps is preferably disposable and, therefore, must be relatively inexpensive, such tubing frequently has mmor manufacturing variations that affect the accuracy of the pump Accordingly, there is a need for an infusion pump capable of identifying and accommodating any manufacturing variations in the tubmg Infusion pumps should also be equipped with an effective air-in-line detector to prevent embolisms and to notify the user when the medication is not flowing properly through the system Unfortunately vaπations in material, transmissivity, and contamination on the pump tubmg may affect the operation of known air-in-line detectors Accordingly, there is a need for an air-in-line detector capable of compensating for these difficulties In addition, many infusion pumps fail to provide adequate free flow prevention devices to restrict the flow of medication when the pump is opened When the pump is closed and in operation, medication is delivered only at a controlled rate However, when the pump is opened, there may be no mechanism to prevent flow ot medication In order to prevent free flow of medication, which could result in an overdose, infusion pump operators typically clamp the pump tubmg prior to opening the pump However, if the operator neglects to clamp the tubmg, or if the clamp is defective or improperly placed, an overdose may result As a result, there is a need for a device to automatically prevent the free flow of medication through the pump tubing when the pump is opened Finally, infusion pumps must be accurate to ensure that the medications are infused at the proper rate Typically, desired low flow rates are achieved by halting the infusion pump for periods of time to ensure that the desired average pumping rate is maintained Unfortunately, many known infusion pumps that employ such a system where, durmg an off period, the pump is stopped for many minutes, leading to undesirable vaπations in the medication flow rate Accordingly, there is a need for an infusion pump with a near constant flow rate It is accordingly an object of this invention to overcome the disadvantages and drawbacks of the known art and to provide improved peristaltic infusion pumps Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There is provided herein a peristaltic infusion pump Accordmg to one embodiment of the invention, the pump comprises a disposable tubing set and a pump adapted to receive the disposable tubmg set The disposable tubing set mcludes indicating means for indicatmg the size of the disposable tubmg set The pump comprises means for determimng the size of the disposable tubmg set in accordance with the indication of the indicatmg means BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which Figs 1 A- 1 C show schematic diagrams of various configurations of tube sets for use in an infusion pump in accordance with the present invention, Fig 2 shows a schematic side view of an elbow and elbow seat switches of an infusion pump in accordance with the present invention, Fig 3 shows a schematic end view of an elbow and elbow seat switches of an infusion pump in accordance with the present invention. Fig 4 shows a schematic view of a sensor piece and signal sending and receiving means of an air-in-hne sensor in accordance with the present invention. Figs 5 A-B show a schematic side view of a free flow preventor in accordance with the present invention, Figs 5C-D show a schematic end view of a free flow preventor in accordance with the present invention, Figs 6A-B show a programmable pump unit and drone pump unit in accordance with the present invention, Fig 7A shows a schematic side view of a pressure sensor m accordance with the present invention. Fig 7B shows a schematic top view of a pressure sensor in accordance with the present invention. Fig 8 shows a schematic top view of the adapter means of a programmable pump unit in accordance with the present invention. Fig 9 shows a schematic side view of a programmable pump umt resting in a base umt in accordance with the present invention. Figs 10A-B shows flow diagrams of a method ot monitoring the air-in-line sensor of the present invention: and Figs 1 1 A-B shows flow diagrams of a method for controlling the flow rate of an infusion pump in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An infusion pump in accordance with the present invention comprises one or more disposable sets, a programmable pump unit, one or more additional drone pump units, and a telemetry/chargmg base In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the infusion pump is a peristaltic pump capable of delivering fluids in flow rates rangmg from 0 01 ml/hr to 500ml/hr This application claims priority based on provisional U S national application serial number 60/007.930, filed on December 4, 1995, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference Disposable Tubing Set with Size Indication Means Referring now to Figs 1-5, a disposable tubing set 100 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present mvention comprises a connector 101 , a first tubing segment 103, an elbow body 105. pump tubmg 107, an air-m-line detector or sensor piece 109, a free flow preventor 111, a second tubmg segment 104, and a second connector 101 Tube sets 100 may come in any number of different sizes In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, tube sets 100 are made in two sizes, small and large Tube set size is determined by the size of the pump mb g 107 In addition, a particular pump mbmg 107 size may also vary due to imperfections in the manufacturing process for the pump tubmg 107 In a preferred embodiment, the small tube set 100 delivers fluids at rates rangmg trom 0 01 ml/hr to 99 99 ml/hr The large tube set 100 delivers fluids at rates rangmg from 0 1 ml/hr to 500 ml/hr The connectors 101 may be any connectors suitable for coupling tubmg to IV bags, access lines, ports, and the like. The connectors 101 are preferably standard universal connectors used for making such connections Exemplary connectors 101 include the Luer lock connector and the spike adapter Adapters tailored for specific applications may also be used The first and second mbmg segments 103 and 104 are standard medical tubing The size of the pump tubing 107 is adapted for the desired flow rates ln a preferred embodiment the small tube set 100 has a pump tubmg segment 107 approximately 0 075 inches in diameter and the large tube set 100 has a pump tubing 107 segment approximately 0 175 inches in diameter All tubing 103 and 104 is preferably transparent to permit visualization of the fluid channel. Referring to Figs 2 and 3. the elbow 105 comprises a housmg 141 having a channel 143 therethrough and first and second connectors 145 and 146. Since the mbe sets 100 come n different sizes, and since the pump mbmg 107 has minor size variations withm a given size, the elbow 105 further comprises size identification means In a preferred embodiment, size identification means comprises a pattern of tabs 147 on the bottom of the housing 141 In a preferred embodiment, the elbow 105 has four tab positions The tabs 147 may be removed or may be molded terminal patterns to identify the size of the tube set 100 as well as any manufacturing variation in the mbe set The pattern of the tabs codes for the size of the tube sets as follows A B C D 1 X X 0 Large 0 X X 1 Small X 0 1 X Plus X 1 0 X Minus Thus, positions A and D code for gross set size and positions B and C code for fine positive or negative size variations caused by any variation in the manufacturing process The tab pattern is such that a single tab failure can be detected For example, if a tab at position A is broken off of a large set, it will not be mistakenly indicated that a small set is installed Referring now to Figs 1 -3 and 6A. the elbow body 105 is adapted to fit snugly into the elbow seat 605 of the pump unit such that the tabs rest on and trigger switches 151 in the pump umt 600 The tabs 147 and switches 151 may be separated by a flexible membrane 149 to keep contammation away from the switches 151 The presence of particular tabs 147 conveys mbe set 100 size (gross and fine) to the pump 600 by tripping particular switches 151 in the pump unit 600 when the elbow 105 is placed in the elbow seat 605 The first elbow connector 145 is adapted to couple the first tubing segment 103 to the elbow The second elbow connector 146 is adapted to couple Uie elbow 105 to the pump mbmg 107 PVC solvent cement is preferably used to secure the 103 and 104 tubing to the elbow connector 145 The second elbow connector 146 preferably has a barb 148 to help secure the pump mbmg 107 to the elbow 105 The elbow 105 is preferably transparent to permit the user to visualize the fluid channel The elbow 105 is preferably made from molded acrylic The elbow housing 141 preferably has various predetermined protrusions (not shown) on the exterior surface thereof which match cavities (not shown) on the elbow seat 605 The cavities and protrusions ensure proper seating of the elbow housmg 141 in the elbow seat 605 and prevent movement of the elbow housing 141 in the elbow seat 605 The elbow 141 is coupled via second elbow connector 146 to the first end of the pump tubing 107 The pump bmg 107 is flexible tubing, preferably silicone, adapted to be squeezed by the pumping segments 607, which are driven by the pump motor (not shown) The size of the pump mbmg 107 determines the flow rate range of the mbe set 100 In a preferred embodiment, two sizes of pump tubing 107 are provided in the disposable sets 100 As described above, the small mbe set 100 preferably comprises silicone pump tubing 0 075 inches in diameter, and the large mbe set 100 preferably comprises pump tubing 0 175 inches in diameter The length of the pump tubing 107 is adapted to fit into the pump unit 600 Air-in-Line Sensor Referring now to Figs 1 and 4, the second end of the pump mbmg 107 is coupled to an air-in- line sensor piece 109 The sensor piece 109 comprises first and second connectors 401 and 403, a fluid channel 405 therethrough, first and second cavities 407 and 409 adapted to receive sensor means 41 1 such as light emitters and detectors, and a reference chamber 413 The sensor piece 109 is adapted to fit into an air-in-line sensor receiving section 611 of the pump unit 600 as illustrated in Fig 6 which comprises signal sending and receiving means 411 The signai sending means is preferably a light emitter and the signal receiving means is preferably a light detector In an alternative embodiment, suitable sending and receiving means other than light emitters and detectors may be utilized, such as ultrasonic emitters and detectors As illustrated, the first emitter and detector set 41 la is arrayed on opposite sides of the fluid channel 405 The second emitter and detector set 41 lb is arraved on opposite sides of the reference chamber 413 The reference chamber 413 is filled with air Light detected by the first detector 411a is compared to light detected by the second or reference detector 411b If the light is the same, the pump 600 determines that air is in the line ln addition, if the status of the light received by the reference detector 411b changes, the pump 600 determines that a spill mav have occurred within the pump unit 900 obscuring the detector 41 1 Referring now to Figs 10 A-B, there is shown flow diagrams 1000. 1050 of a method of monitoring the air-m-line sensor 109 of Fig 4 Upon power-up the system initializes the air-in-line sensor by checkmg the reference chamber 413 voltage level V RC (step 1001) If the level is outside a predetermined reference voltage range, a fluid spill may of have occurred and an error is reported (steps 1002, 1003) In a preferred embodiment, the reference voltage range is approximately 1 65V ±0 188V, or from 1 462V to 1 838V If the reference chamber 413 voltage level V RC falls mside this range, then the fluid channel 405 voltage level V rc is measured (steps 1002. 1004) If this voltage V FC is within the reference voltage range 1 65V +0 188V, an AIR-IN-LINE error is reported (steps 1005, 1006) If the fluid channel 405 voltage level is outside the reference voltage, then a LOW and a HIGH variable are initialized based on the fluid channel 405 voltage ievel. preferably about ± 0 20V, creating a "window around the fluid channel 405 voltage level (steps 1005, 1010) A flag AIR_FOUND is set to 0 (step 1010) Once the pump starts delivering fluid (step 1011), if the fluid channel 405 voltage level falls inside the range defmed by the LOW and HIGH variables (steps 1012, 1020), the AIR FOUND flag is set to 0 and measurement of V F C contmues (steps 1021, 1012) Otherwise. AIR FOUND is set to 1. and measurement of V FC continues (steps 1022, 1012) While AIR_FOUND is 1 , any motor pulses will be counted by incrementmg a variable AIR_COUNT. as illustrated in flow diagram 1050 of Fig 10B The variable AIR_COUNT is initially set to 0 (step 1051), and may be reset to 0 periodically, for example once per hour If there is a motor pulse and the flag AIR_FOUND is 1 , then AIR_COUNT is incremented (steps 1052, 1053. 1054) If AlR_COUNT exceeds a maximum value N (step 1055), this indicates that too many motor pulses have occurred while AIR FOUND is 1 within the predetermined time period (e g one hour), and an AIR IN-LINE error is reported (step 1056) Free Flow Preventor Referring now to Figs 1 and 5A-5D the free flow preventor 111 is coupled to the sensor piece 109 As illustrated in Figs 5A-5D. free flow preventor 111 comprises a fixed member 501 having first and second ends 501a and 50 lb and having a fluid channel 509 therethrough The fixed member 501 is adapted to receive a sliding member 507 also having a channel 511 therethrough The sliding member 507 is held in the fixed member 501 by an elastic sleeve 505, which preferably consists of silicone tubing As shown in Figs 5 A and 5C, when the elastic sleeve 505 is in the undeformed position, the sliding member 507 is positioned so that the channel 511 therethrough is misaligned with me channel 509 through the fixed member 501 As a result, the channel 509 through the fixed member 501 is obstructed As shown m Figs 5B and 5D, when the elastic tubing 505 is deformed, the sliding member 507 is positioned so that the channel 511 through the sliding member 507 aligns with the channel 509 through the fixed member 501 , thereby providing an unobstructed fluid channel The pump unit 600 is adapted to receive the free flow preventor section 111 such that when the pump unit door is closed and ready for operation a fmger 513 coupled to the pump unit door deforms the elastic sleeve 505 Additionally, the elastic sleeve 505 may be deformed manually to permit priming However, when the pump 600 is opened, the elastic sleeve 505 automatically returns to the undeformed state, thereby closing the fluid channel 509 and preventing free flow The materials for the fixed and sliding members 501 and 502 are preferably low friction, high tolerance materials such as polypropelene, so as to ailow free movement of the sliding member 507 in the fixed member 501 without degradation The fixed member 501 is preferably transparent to permit visualization of the fluid channel The sliding member 507 is preferably a contrasting color to permit a human operator to locate and operate the sliding member 507 Programmable Pump Unit with Pressure Sensor Referring now to Fig 6, the infusion pump of the present mvention compπses a programmable pump umt 600 The umt comprises a processor section 601 and a disposable set receiving section 603 Disposable set receiving section 603 comprises an elbow seat 605. a pumping section 608. a pressure sensor 609. and an air- -line sensor receiving section 611 As descπbed above, the elbow seat 605 is adapted to receive the mbe set elbow 105 The elbow seat 605 preferably comprises four micro switches 151 adapted to be triggered by tabs 147 on the elbow 105 The switches 151 are preferably covered by a thm, flexible, rubber membrane 149 The pumpmg section 608 preferably comprises pumping segments 607 or fingers standard in peristaltic infusion pumps The pumping section 608 is adapted to receive and act upon the pump mbmg 107 of the tube set 100 When placed in the pump unit 600. the pump mbmg 107 also is received by pressure sensor 609 Pressure sensor 609 measures the pressure in the mbe set 100. which may be used to indicate whether a bag occlusion or a patient side occlusion has occurred Referring now to Fig 7, pressure sensor 609 compπses a cover 701. a contact disk 703. and pressure sensor means 705 The cover 701 is preferably made of 5 mil flexible polyester The contact disk 703 ensures that the contact surface between the pump mbmg 107 and the pressure sensor means 705 is constant, regardless of which size tube set 100 is in the pump unit 600 and regardless of whether the pump mbmg 107 is slightly misaligned The contact disk 703 is preferably made of 15 mil rigid polyester The pressure sensor 705 is preferably a force sensing resistor (FSR), such as that provided by Interlink, Inc The contact disc 703 is preferably coupled to the cover by an adhesive such as 3M467 Adhesive manufactured by Scotch Drone Pump Units Referring now to Figs 6A and 8, pumping 600 umt further compπses an expansion port 801 The expansion port 801 is preferably a nine pm port (3 voltage lines, 2 communications lines, 1 control line, 2 ground lines, and 1 safety/termination line) The voltage lines provide power to an attachable drone pumpmg unit 613 The control line provides control over a variable power supply for the motor This power supply preferably provides two voltages battery voltage (2 2 VDC-3 2 VDC) or 5 VDC The variable voltage allows better motor control and flowrate range The safety/termination line caπies a signal to the programmable pump 600 to terminate the pump motor and trigger the alarm if an error, either hardware or software, is detected The data lines allow the pump to communicate with the drone umts 613 An infusion device in accordance with the present invenuon therefore preferably compnses one or more drone pumpmg umts 613 Referring now to Figs 6A. 6B and 8, the programmable pump unit 600 (PPU) may be coupled to additional drone pumping units 613 by means of the expansion port 801 described above Each drone pumpmg 613 unit has a pumpmg section (not shown) identical to the pumping section 603 in the PPU 600 In addition, each drone unit 613 has both a male and female 9 pin port Accordingly, a drone unit 613 may be attached directly to the PPU 600 or to another drone unit 613 (not shown) As each drone 613 is attached, the PPU 600 receives a signal from the drone 613 and allows the user to program the drone 613 pumping channel m addition to the original pumpmg channel 603 provided in the PPU 600 Base Unit Referring now to Fig 9, there is shown a schematic side view of a programmable pump umt 600 resting in a charging/telemetry base unit 901 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present mvention Base 901 preferably comprises a modem, phone jack, and battery charging means (not shown) The base 901 allows a remote personal computer (PC) (not shown) to monitor and/or to update, either directly or through a modem, the pump status and the pump's user program In addition, the pump's history records may be disembodied to the PC for record keeping and further analysis The base 901 is adapted to receive the programmable pumping unit as described above In a preferred embodiment, the base has a finger 513 adapted to automatically open the data/charging port 903 of the PPU 600 Means for Monitoring and Controlling Flow Rate In order to provide the most accurate flow rate usmg the least amount of energy, an infusion pump in accordance with the present invention operates by activating the pump motor repeatedly for small time periods In a preferred embodiment of the present mvention, the pump motor is activated every five seconds Thus, every five seconds, there is an activation period (of no more than five seconds) durmg which the pump applies a consecutive series of pulses to the pumpmg segments 607 of pumping section 608, which act upon pump tubing 107 of mbe set 100 In order to deliver the desired flow rate, the pump first determines the number of pulses P necessary to deliver the desired volume, since each pulse causes a known quantity of volume to be delivered The total number of pulses is dependent upon the size of the pump tubing 107 The pump then determines the number of pulses to be delivered durmg each activation period in accordance with the following steps, which are illustrated in flow diagram 1100 of Fig 11 A First, the total number of puises P and number of activation periods A in a fixed time period T are determined (step 1101) For example, if activation periods occur every five seconds, there are 720 activation periods (A) in one hour (T) Next, the pump divides the number of pulses P by the number of activation periods A to yield result R, (step 1102) R, represents the average number of pulses that should be generated per activation period to provide a total of P pulses However, R, is a real number, and it is not possible to actually provide a fraction of a pulse in an activation period Thus, result R 2 is determined by rounding real number R ,to the nearest integer, and a fractional component F is determined by taking the absolute value of the difference between R : and R | (step 1 103) Smce R 2 is a rounded number, generation of exactly R 2 pulses for each of A activation periods will usually result in a total number of pulses different than P durmg time T Thus, result R 3 , the product of rounded number R : and A, is computed (step 1105) R 3 represents the total number of pulses that would be delivered if the rounded number R, is used to supply R : pulses per activation period If R 3 is greater than P, then a flag is set to "subtract 1 " (steps 1110, 1111 ) Otherwise, if R 3 is less than P, then a flag is set to "add 1 " (steps 1110, 1112) Durmg generation of pulses, as described below with reference to flow diagram 1150 of Fig I IB, some of the activation periods are "corrective activation periods" in which either R : - 1 or R ; + 1 pulses will be generated rather than R : pulses, dependmg upon whether the flag has been set to "subtract 1 " or "add 1 " Activation periods in which either R-, - 1 or R : + I puises are generated are referred to as "corrective activation periods " Activation periods in which exactly R 2 pulses are generated may be referred to simply as activation periods or as "normal activation periods " After the flag is set in steps 1111 or 1112. a value C is calculated as the product of F and A (step 1121), where C is the optimal number of corrective activation periods It is desirable to ensure as even a distribution of pulses as possible by more or less evenly distributing the corrective activation periods among the normal activation periods Thus, in step 1122, value S is determined as the rounded value of (A'C), where S is a skip value mat indicates how often to have a corrective activation period Thus, if S is 3, every S^ activation period will be a corrective activation period in which the number of pulses generated is either R : - 1 or R + 1 depending, respectively, upon whether the flag was set to "subtract 1" or "add 1 " A numerical example of the operation of the above-described steps of flow diagram 1100 is provided as follows The infusion pump of the present invention may be used to deliver 1 ml of medication per hour, with a tube set that requires 53,000 pulses P to deliver 1 ml of fluid, with activation periods every 5 seconds Thus, P is 53.000 and A is 720 (step 1101 ) Result R, (P/A) is 73 611 (step 1102) Result R : (Round(73 611)) is determined to be 74. and F is 0 389 (step 1103) R,. the product of rounded number R-, and A. is computed to be 53,280 pulses (step 1105) As will be appreciated, without me error correction provided by the use of corrective activation periods, the pump would deliver a pulse rate of 74 pulses every 5 seconds which would yield 53,280 pulses per hour for an error rate of 0 52% Since 53.280 is greater than P (53,000), the flag is set to subtract 1 (steps 1110, 1111) This indicates that during corrective activation periods, 1 is subtracted from the number R, (74) of pulses that are delivered durmg normal activation periods Value C is calculated as the product of F and A to be 280 (step 1121), as explamed above Value S is determined as the rounded value of (A/C), or round(720/280) = round(2 57) = 3 (step 1122) Thus, every third activation period will be a corrective activation period in which the number of pulses generated is R 2 - 1, since the flag was set to "subtract 1 " in step 1111 in this example Thus, in the present example, for 480 (normal) activation periods, the number of pulses generated will be 74 per activation period, and for 240 activation periods, the number of pulses generated will be 73 per activation period The total number of pulses generated after 720 activation periods will therefor be (480 X 74) + (240 x73) = 35.520 + 17,520 = 53.040, providing an error rate of +0 075% Referring now to Fig 1 IB. there is shown flow diagram 1150 of a method for controlling the flow rate of an infusion pump in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention Utilizing the results generated from flow diagram 1100 of Fig 11 A, the pump initially sets a variable SC to S (step 1151) Steps 1152-1 158 are then repeated A times, once per each activation period In each loop of steps 1152-1158, either R 2 , (R 2 - 1), or (R 2 + 1) puises are generated, depending upon whether there current activaπon period is determined to be a normal or corrective activation period and depending upon whether the flag is set to add 1 or subtract 1 Thus, usmg the numerical examples given above, SC is initially set to 3 (step 1151) Entermg the loop, SC is decremented (step 1152) and checked to see if it has reached 0 yet (step 1153) If not. the activation period is a normal activation period and 74 pulses are generated, and the loop repeats (step 1154) If SC = 0, SC is once more initialized to S, and the flag is checked to see whether it has been set to "add 1 " or not (steps 1 153, 1155, 1156) In this case, the flag is not set to "add 1 ", since it has been set to "subtract 1 " Thus, 73 pulses are generated (steps 1156, 1158), and the loop is repeated (step 1152) It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scope of the invention

Claims: CLAIMS What is claimed is 1 An apparams, comprising (a) a tubing set comprising indicating means for indicating the size of the mbmg set, and (b) a pump adapted to receive the mbmg set. the pump comprising size determmmg means for determining the size of the mbmg set from the indicating means on the mbmg set 2 The apparams of claim 1 , wherein the pump is a peristaltic infusion pump for the intravenous infusion of medication and the tubing set is a disposable mbmg set 3 The apparams of claim 2. wherein the mbmg set comprises transparent mbmg 4 The apparams of claim 1 , wherein the tubing set is one of a small mbmg set and a large tubmg set 5 The apparams of claim 4 wherein the small mbmg set compπses pump mbmg of about 0 075 inches in diameter and is adapted to deliver fluids at rates ranging from 0 01 ml/hr to 99 99 ml/hr. and the large mbing set comprises pump tubing of about 0 175 inches in diameter and is adapted to deliver fluids at rates rangmg from 0 1 ml/hr to 500 ml/hr 6 The apparams of claim 1 , wherein the indicating means comprises a plurality of tab positions 7 The apparams of claim 6 wherem the plurality of tab positions comprises four tab positions including first, second, third, and fourth tab positions. the first and fourth tab positions code for gross mbmg set size, and the second and third tab positions code for fine positive or negative mbmg set size variations, whereby a single tab position failure can be detected 8 The apparams of claim 6, wherein the size determmmg means comprises a plurality of switches, each of which is for detecting whether or not a tab is present in a corresponding tab position of the plurality of tab positions 9 The apparams of claim 8, wherein the mbmg set comprises an elbow body which comprises the plurality of tab positions, and the pump comprises an elbow seating means for securably coupling the elbow body to the pump and for operatively coupling the plurality of tab positions to the plurality of switches 10 The apparams of claim 1. wherein the tubmg set comprises an elbow body which comprises the indicating means, and the pump comprises an elbow seating means for securably coupling the elbow body to the pump 11 A method, comprising (a) providing a tubing set, 3 (b) providing a pump adapted to receive the mbmg set. (c) indicating with indicating means of the mbmg set the size of the mbmg set, and 5 (d) determining with size determmmg means of the pump the size of the tubing set from the 6 indicating means on the mbmg set 1 12 The method of claim 11 , wherein the pump is a peristaltic infusion pump for the 2 intravenous infusion of medication and the tubing set is a disposable mbmg set 1 13 The method of claim 12, wherein the mbmg set compπses transparent mbmg 1 14 The method of claim 1 1 , wherein the mbmg set is one of a small tubing set and a large i tubing set 1 15 The method of claim 14. wherem 2 the small tubing set comprises pump mbmg of about 0 075 mches in diameter, and 3 the large mbmg set comprises pump mbmg of about 0 175 mches in diameter, the method 4 comprising the further steps of 5 delivering fluids with the small tubing set at rates ranging from 0 01 ml/hr to 99 99 ml/hr. 6 and 7 delivering fluids with the large tubing set at rates rangmg trom 0 1 ml/hr to 500 ml/hr 1 16 The meuiod of claim 1 1 , wherein the indicating means comprises a plurality of tab 2 positions 1 17 The method of claim 16, wherein 2 the plurality of tab positions comprises four tab positions including first, second, diird, and 3 fourth tab positions, 4 the first and fourth tab positions code for gross mbmg set size, and 5 the second and third tab positions code for fine positive or negative tubing set size variations, 6 whereby a single tab position failure can be detected 1 18 The method of claim 16. wherein the size determining means comprises a plurality of 2 switches, each of which is for detecting whether or not a tab is present in a corresponding tab position 3 of the plurality of tab positions 1 19 The method of claim 18, wherein 2 the mbmg set comprises an elbow body which comprises the plurality of tab positions; and 3 the pump comprises an elbow seating means for securably coupling the elbow body to the 4 pump and for operatively coupling the plurality of tab positions to the plurality of 5 switches 20 The method of claim 1 1 , wherein i the tubing set comprises an elbow body which comprises the indicating means, and 3 the pump comprises an elbow seating means for securably coupling the elbow body to the 4 pump 1 21 An apparams comprising a tubing set for use with a pump adapted to receive the mbmg 2 set. wherem the tubing set comprises indicating means for indicating the size of the mbmg set and the 3 pump comprises size determining means for determining the size of the mbmg set trom the indicatmg means on the tubing set 22 The apparams of claim 21 , wherem the pump is a peristaltic infusion pump for the intravenous infusion of medication and the tubing set is a disposable mbmg set 23 The apparams of claim 22, wherein the mbmg sec comprises transparent mbmg 24 The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the tubing set is one of a small mbmg set and a large tubmg set 25 The apparams of claim 24, wherein the small mbmg set comprises pump mbmg of about 0 075 inches in diameter and is adapted to deliver fluids at rates rangmg from 0 01 ml/hr to 99 99 ml/hr, and the large tubing set comprises pump mbmg of about 0 175 inches in diameter and is adapted to deliver fluids at rates ranging from 0 I ml/hr to 500 ml/hr 26 The apparams of claim 21 wherein the indicating means comprises a plurality of tab positions 27 The apparams of claim 26, wherem the plurality of tab positions comprises four tab positions including first, second, third, and fourth tab positions, the first and fourth tab positions code for gross tubmg set size, and the second and third tab positions code for fine positive or negative mbmg set size vaπations, whereby a single tab position failure can be detected 28 The apparams of claim 26. wherein the size determmmg means of the pump compπses a plurality of switches, each of which is for detectmg whether or not a tab is present in a correspondmg tab position of the plurality of tab positions 29 The apparams of claim 28, wherein the b g set comprises an elbow body which comprises the plurality of tab positions, and the pump comprises an elbow seating means for securably coupling the elbow body to the pump and for operatively coupling the plurahty of tab positions to the plurality of switches 30 The apparams of claim 21 . wherem the bing set comprises an elbow body which comprises the indicating means, and the pump comprises an elbow seating means for securably coupling the elbow body to the pump

Inventors: AMMANN DAVID, GARCIA-VERONA LUIS, AMMANN, DAVID, GARCIA-VERONA, LUIS
Applicants: ALPHAMED INC, AMMANN DAVID, GARCIA VERONA LUIS, ALPHAMED INCORPORATED, AMMANN, DAVID, GARCIA-VERONA, LUIS
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A61M37
IPC codes: A61M5