Patent ID: 7150735

Claim:
A cassette for use with an intravenous infusion apparatus including a pumping mechanism which administers an infusate to a patient, wherein said cassette is removably attachable to the intravenous infusion apparatus, and wherein said cassette comprises: a drug container entry mechanism having an infusate flow umen configured such that infusate flows from the container and into the flow lumen; a sheath for said entry mechanism, wherein said sheath is configured so that said drug container entry mechanism is not unsheathed until said cassette is safely engaged with a mating surface of said intravenous infusion apparatus; a means for securing an infusate delivery conduit to the infusate flow lumen such that infusate can flow from the flow lumen into the delivery conduit; a means for preventing flow of infusate from the flow lumen into the delivery conduit and into a patient in an uncontrolled manner; and an indexing means for aligning the cassette when the cassette is attached to the intravenous infusion apparatus in a manner that allows proper administration of infusate to the patient.