Abstract: A digital syringe is used with conventional polymer disposable syringe construction to be practical in the medical environment. Errors associated with the larger volumes of the syringes (which exacerbate minor errors in plunger position) and the flexibility and dimensional variations of the polymer plungers are accommodated by direct measurement of the syringe plunger position rather than indirect measurement of motor position and inference of syringe plunger position. This direct measurement eliminates mechanical tolerances (“stack up”) in the motor, gear train, and lead screw on plunger movement, an effect exacerbated by flexibility of the plunger and changes in syringe resistance and medicament viscosity, for example, with different medicaments or when the syringe is refrigerated. The digital syringe may be combined with the motor unit to provide additional versatility.

Abstract: A digital syringe is used with conventional polymer disposable syringe construction to be practical in the medical environment. Errors associated with the larger volumes of the syringes (which exacerbate minor errors in plunger position) and the flexibility and dimensional variations of the polymer plungers are accommodated by direct measurement of the syringe plunger position rather than indirect measurement of motor position and inference of syringe plunger position. This direct measurement eliminates mechanical tolerances (“stack up”) in the motor, gear train, and lead screw on plunger movement, an effect exacerbated by flexibility of the plunger and changes in syringe resistance and medicament viscosity, for example, with different medicaments or when the syringe is refrigerated. The digital syringe may be combined with the motor unit to provide additional versatility.

Abstract: An automatic needle insertion device assists patients who may be uncomfortable with placing the needle themselves and employs a soft outer needle inserted using a rigid stylet, for example, a standard hypodermic needle, which is then removed after the soft needle is placed, greatly reducing irritation. An ambulatory pump can be filled with a variety of drugs and different amounts of drug on demand, for example, using a syringe prior to use.

Abstract: A device for providing drug verification may work in conjunction with drug delivery devices such as medical pumps to provide a chemical and concentration analysis of drugs being delivered forming a signature that can be compared to a signature associated with the proper drug, reducing errors in medicine delivery and ensuring proper use of medicines throughout their lifecycle.

Abstract: A “clip-on” flow controller for IV lines automatically controls flow rate over a range of pressures through a self-contained valve and flow sensor. By eliminating a pump, a lightweight system with a long operating life can be produced, as well as a system that can be self-supported on the IV line yet still provide institutional-level flow accuracy without accurate elevation of the IV bag or careful monitoring.

Abstract: A system for lifecycle tracking of drugs provides for medical pumps to provide end of delivery cycle recording of the disposition of drugs, both for drugs that are administered by pump and those administered manually. By introducing drug dispensing identification upstream, for example, at the pharmacy, the invention allows automatic recording of the drug delivery by medical pumps communicating with the central server system. The result is a lifecycle manifest having records linked to a patient that identifies the travel of the drug and delivery of the drug through the medical care system from pharmacy to patient, and identifies discrepancies in drug utilization.

Abstract: A low-cost drug compounding system that can practically fit inside of a fume hood or the like is provided. The system can use a single pump operable in forward and reverse directions (or multiple pumps) to compound complex mixtures particularly including those requiring the creation of solutions from dry or powdered ingredients. A wireless link allows operation of the system remotely. In one embodiment, the system uses a disposable mixing tube set that can be discarded after mixing while still attached to the base ingredient containers used for the compounding thereby minimize the chance of personnel exposure.

Abstract: A low-cost medical pump for ambulatory use provides reduced life components combined with a pump lockout enforcing a safe operating limit and preventing reuse after that limit is exceeded. An improved IV line clamp portion minimizes unsupported clamp structure length and provides a dual lock system preventing inadvertent clamp release.

Abstract: An anesthesiology pump for automatic delivery and control of anesthetics to a patient provides a remote unit that may be carried by an anesthesiologist to improve supervision of the anesthesiology process without unnecessarily constraining the anesthesiologist's movement. The anesthesiology pump may assess one or both of a status of the anesthesiology procedure and the availability of the anesthesiologist to provide tailored alerts to the anesthesiologist when additional attention or availability may be needed. Availability may consider separation distance between the pump and the radiologist as well as express indications of availability. A set of predefined safe states permit a pump response when the anesthesiologist is not available and additional attention is required.

Abstract: A digital syringe is used with conventional polymer disposable syringe construction to be practical in the medical environment. Errors associated with the larger volumes of the syringes (which exacerbate minor errors in plunger position) and the flexibility and dimensional variations of the polymer plungers are accommodated by direct measurement of the syringe plunger position rather than indirect measurement of motor position and inference of syringe plunger position. This direct measurement eliminates mechanical tolerances (“stack up”) in the motor, gear train, and lead screw on plunger movement, an effect exacerbated by flexibility of the plunger and changes in syringe resistance and medicament viscosity, for example, with different medicaments or when the syringe is refrigerated. The digital syringe may be combined with the motor unit to provide additional versatility.

Abstract: A low-cost drug compounding system that can practically fit inside of a fume hood or the like is provided. The system can use a single pump operable in forward and reverse directions (or multiple pumps) to compound complex mixtures particularly including those requiring the creation of solutions from dry or powdered ingredients. A wireless link allows operation of the system remotely. In one embodiment, the system uses a disposable mixing tube set that can be discarded after mixing while still attached to the base ingredient containers used for the compounding thereby minimize the chance of personnel exposure.

Abstract: A low-cost drug compounding system that can practically fit inside of a fume hood or the like is provided. The system can use a single pump operable in forward and reverse directions (or multiple pumps) to compound complex mixtures particularly including those requiring the creation of solutions from dry or powdered ingredients. A wireless link allows operation of the system remotely. In one embodiment, the system uses a disposable mixing tube set that can be discarded after mixing while still attached to the base ingredient containers used for the compounding thereby minimize the chance of personnel exposure.

Abstract: A digital syringe is used with conventional polymer disposable syringe construction to be practical in the medical environment. Errors associated with the larger volumes of the syringes (which exacerbate minor errors in plunger position) and the flexibility and dimensional variations of the polymer plungers are accommodated by direct measurement of the syringe plunger position rather than indirect measurement of motor position and inference of syringe plunger position. This direct measurement eliminates mechanical tolerances (“stack up”) in the motor, gear train, and lead screw on plunger movement, an effect exacerbated by flexibility of the plunger and changes in syringe resistance and medicament viscosity, for example, with different medicaments or when the syringe is refrigerated. The digital syringe may be combined with the motor unit to provide additional versatility.

Abstract: An application authoring tool and application program system for medical pumps provides each pump with a standardized hardware interface abstracting the hardware and tasks done by the pump in order to provide a uniform interface for application programmers across different pump types. The standardized interface may translate hardware communication with hardware on different machines, do hardware signal range checking, and handle routine but detailed hardware tasks such as error reporting. A system for installing multiple applications on pumps allows a flexible trade-off between reducing pump programming time by loading specialized application programs and preserving pump flexibility by allowing the user to select among multiple applications.

Abstract: A valve for a tubing kit used provides a resilient element naturally moving to a closed state to reduce opportunity for inadvertent leakage of medicine and to reduce effort required by healthcare personnel to seal the fluid line. In one embodiment the resilient element is a spring serving to compress the walls of IV tube in the closure and in a second embodiment the resilient element is an elastomeric member that is deformed to provide an opening to allow passage of fluid through the fluid line.

Abstract: A low-cost medical pump for ambulatory use provides reduced life components combined with a pump lockout enforcing a safe operating limit and preventing reuse after that limit is exceeded. An improved IV line clamp portion minimizes unsupported clamp structure length and provides a dual lock system preventing inadvertent clamp release.

Abstract: A modular medical pump system provides separate pump units that may be pre-associated with flexible tubes. Multiple pump units may be installed in a controller that coordinates operation of the pump units for delivery of multiple medicaments to a patient. The pump units may carry drug information and the controller may hold patient information allowing drug delivery and interaction to be assessed by the controller.

Abstract: A low-cost drug compounding system that can practically fit inside of a fume hood or the like is provided. The system can use a single pump operable in forward and reverse directions (or multiple pumps) to compound complex mixtures particularly including those requiring the creation of solutions from dry or powdered ingredients. A wireless link allows operation of the system remotely. In one embodiment, the system uses a disposable mixing tube set that can be discarded after mixing while still attached to the base ingredient containers used for the compounding thereby minimize the chance of personnel exposure.

Abstract: A system for automatic verification of medicine type and/or concentration by automatic drug dispensing systems contemporaneous with the compounding and dispensing of the medicine from the system.

Abstract: A valve for a tubing kit used provides a resilient element naturally moving to a closed state to reduce opportunity for inadvertent leakage of medicine and to reduce effort required by healthcare personnel to seal the fluid line. In one embodiment the resilient element is a spring serving to compress the walls of IV tube in the closure and in a second embodiment the resilient element is an elastomeric member that is deformed to provide an opening to allow passage of fluid through the fluid line.