Patent ID: 7322961

Claim:
A method of assembling an infusion apparatus, comprising: providing a support member at least partially defining an inlet and an outlet; positioning an elastic sleeve over the support member, thereby defining a variable-volume fluid reservoir between the support member and the sleeve, the inlet and the outlet communicating with the fluid reservoir; providing a pair of spring clips, each clip having a first end, a second end and a generally annular body portion extending between the first and second ends; applying an opposing force to each of the first and second ends of one of the spring clips to deflect the spring clip into a deflected position and passing the spring clip over a first end of the support member and sleeve, releasing the first and second ends to permit the body portion to contact the sleeve and create a seal between the sleeve and the support member and thereby define a first end of the fluid reservoir; applying an opposing force to each of the first and second ends of the other of the spring clips to deflect the spring clip into a deflected position and passing the spring clip over a second end of the support member and the sleeve, releasing the first and second ends to permit the body portion to contact the sleeve and create a seal between the sleeve and the support member and thereby define a second end of the fluid reservoir; wherein the first and second ends of the spring clip have an initial length, additionally comprising the step of trimming the first and second ends to a shorter length after the respective spring clip is positioned onto the support member and sleeve.