Patent ID: 7981082

Claim:
A method for detecting air in a fluid delivery line using a medical pump having a motor and a first air detection sensor, comprising the steps of: starting a fluid delivery cycle having a pressurization phase, a delivery phase and a retraction phase; activating the first air detection sensor during one of a first pressurization phase and a first delivery phase after a first predetermined cycle parameter value has been met; measuring a first air content signal generated by the first air detection sensor; generating first air content data from the first air content signal; determining whether the first air content data has met a first predetermined air threshold; deactivating the first air detection sensor during the one of the first pressurization phase and the first delivery phase after measuring the first air content signal and after a second predetermined cycle parameter value has been met; reactivating the first air detection sensor during the one of the first pressurization phase and the first delivery phase after a third predetermined cycle parameter value has been met; measuring a second air content signal generated by the first air detection sensor; generating second air content data from the second air contents signal; determining whether the second air content data has met the first predetermined air threshold; and, deactivating the first air detection sensor during the one of the first pressurization phase and the first delivery phase after measuring the second air content signal and after a fourth predetermined cycle parameter value has been met.