Abstract: An apparatus for indicating a change in operation of a medical infusion pump. The apparatus includes a memory configured to store an original pump parameter and a current pump parameter. The apparatus further includes a programmable circuit in electrical communication with the memory, the programmable circuit programmed to display the original pump parameter and the current pump parameter. A method indicates a change in operation of a medical infusion pump.

Abstract: An overload protection method and apparatus for a medicament syringe pump force sensor. A dome switch is employed with force sensor components of a medicament pump. The dome switch collapses at overload pressures, isolating the force sensor from pump driving forces that exceed the force sensor limit. An alarm signal can be triggered by the overload, and initiate pump shut down.

Abstract: A dose request device for a medicament delivery device can include a housing, a dose request button, a short-range non-contact identifier, a communication interface configured to communicate with the medicament delivery device, and a controller. The short-range non-contact identifier can be configured to be capable of reading an identification code from a tag when the tag is disposed within a first range and not to be able to read the identification code from the tag when the tag is disposed beyond a second range. The controller can be configured and programmed to determine whether the identification code read by the short-range non-contact identifier matches any authorized identification code of a set of one or more authorized identification codes, and if so, and if the dose request button is pressed, the controller can then communicate a dose request to the medicament delivery device via the communication interface.

Abstract: An infusion system fully compliant with international standard ISO 80639-1, Small-bore Connectors for Liquids and Gases in Healthcare Applications, yet compatible with a multipurpose infusion pump to enable operational redeployment of the pump. An attachment set, removably couplable to the pump inlet and outlet, includes a coded attachment set outlet connector detachably coupling the attachment set to an infusion set, and a coded attachment set pump fitting coupling the attachment set to the infusion pump, thereby identifying to the pump a particular infusion route.

Abstract: A method identifies to which one of a plurality of infusion pumps one of a plurality of fluid lines is coupled. The method can include intentionally producing a predetermined pressure pattern in one of the plurality of fluid lines, detecting the predetermined pressure pattern by way of a sensor of one of the plurality of infusion pumps, and indicating detection of the predetermined pressure pattern in the one of the plurality of fluid lines, thereby indicating the one of the plurality of infusion pumps to which the one of the plurality of fluid lines is coupled. In some cases, a tool configured to occlude and the squeeze the fluid line can be used to intentionally produce the predetermined pressure pattern.

Abstract: To enable a user to readily determine the gauge of the needle of a needle assembly that has a base and a needle protective housing pivotably attached thereto, the needle assembly is injection molded from a color coded molding material which color was preassigned to correspond to the gauge of the needle. As a result, both the base and the protective housing of the needle assembly have—the same specific color, and reflect or provide an indication of the given gauge of the needle. The needle sheath that covers the needle prior to use may be made of a plastics material that may be clear, or have the same or a different color than that of the needle assembly. The gauge of the needle of a fixed needle syringe could also be ascertained by its color coded needle protective housing. Color coded markings that correspond to the gauge of the needle may also be printed onto the syringe barrel of the fixed needle syringe.

Abstract: A pressure plate is configured to be coupled to a control module of an infusion pump. First and second securing hooks may extend away from a major surface of the pressure plate proximally to a first end. Each of the securing hooks may be structured to reversibly and hingedly couple to a hinge pin of the control module. An arch may extend away from the major surface proximally to a second transverse end and be structured to be received by a latch receptacle of the control module. The pressure plate may be secured to the control module by the securing hooks and arch. Each of the securing hooks may include a bearing surface configured to bear against a hinge pin when the pressure plate is secured to the control module, each bearing surface being parallel along the longitudinal axis with respect to the first major surface to within five degrees.

Abstract: An application instantiated on a computing device of a professional receives a selection of a client by a professional to place a call to the client by way of an identifier of the client, and upon receiving the selection of the client, presents to the professional a number of options for an identifier of the professional to be provided with the placed call to the client. The application receives from the professional a selection of one of the options for the identifier of the professional, places the call from the professional to the client, and in doing so provides the selected identifier of the professional with the placed call. The selected and provided identifier of the professional represents a favored location at which the professional or an associate thereof may be reached. The client may ascertain the provided identifier of the professional from the placed call and employ same to place a future call toward the professional or the associate thereof.

Abstract: An echogenic needle may have at least one V-shaped spiral groove formed at its distal portion adjacent to its patient end. The walls of the groove are orthogonal to each other. The groove is titled at a given angle from a neutral position toward the proximal end of the needle so that when the needle is inserted into the patient at an insertion angle under ultrasound imaging, the ultrasound wave emitted from the ultrasound transducer is reflected in a substantially reverse direction back to the transducer by at least one wall of the spiral groove. A pair of crisscrossing grooves may be spirally wound about the distal portion of the needle with each groove being tilted to the given angle to enhance echogeneity. The echogeneity of the needle may also be enhanced by increasing the pitch density of each groove while maintaining the crisscrossing groves at their neutral position.

Abstract: A drug or fluid delivery device includes a pump having a control module. A cassette is removably mounted to the control module. A reservoir is contained within the cassette, and contains a fluid to be delivered to a patient. A protrusion extends from an interior surface of the cassette, creating and maintaining a crease in the reservoir as the fluid is emptied therefrom, thereby creating a fluid path along which the fluid travels to reduce occurrences of the reservoir deleteriously sealing off pockets of fluid as the reservoir is emptied.

Abstract: A safety catheter includes a catheter hub, a needle cannula having a tip, and a tip protector. The tip protector includes an outer member and an inner member therein. The outer member has a projection releasably engaging the catheter hub. The inner member has a pair of arms extending to free ends from a base. The inner member is axially shiftable relative to the outer member between a first position wherein the needle tip is distal of the tip protector and the free ends of the arms are spread apart such that the distal tip is not shielded, and a second position wherein the tip is within the inner and outer members and the free ends of the arms are brought into close proximity such that the distal tip is shielded. The inner member is entirely received within the outer member in both the fort and the second positions thereof.

Abstract: A tip protector for a safety catheter includes an outer member releasably engaged with the interior cavity of the catheter hub. The outer member includes a generally fixed radially outwardly projecting portion to provide a holding force, and an inner member axially shiftably received within the outer member. A needle cannula received in the inner and outer members is operable to axially shift the inner member between a distal position wherein the distal tip extends distally of the tip protector, and a proximal position wherein the distal tip is within the outer member. The holding force of the outer member to the interior wall of the catheter hub remains substantially constant irrespective of the position of the inner member between the distal and proximal positions.

Abstract: To respond to a call from a client to an organization, the call is directed to a lower-level agent associated with the organization for answering thereby. The lower-level agent employs a computing system of the organization, where the computing system includes an actuation device for initiating contact with a higher-level agent of the organization if it is determined that the calling client is calling regarding a matter worthy of escalation from the lower-level agent to the higher-level agent. A selection from the lower-level agent is received during the call of the actuation device to escalate the call from the lower-level agent to the higher-level agent, and in response to the received selection of the actuation device the call is escalated from the lower-level agent to the higher level agent.

Abstract: An application instantiated on a computing device of a professional receives transmitted information on an incoming call from a client and displays same, including an identifier of the client by which the professional can place a return call thereto. Upon the professional selecting the identifier of the client, the application presents a number of options for an identifier of the professional to be provided with the return call, receives a selection of one of the options, places the return call from the professional to the client, and in doing so provides the selected identifier of the professional. The provided identifier of the professional represents a favored location at which the professional or an associate may be reached. The client may ascertain the provided identifier from the return call and employ same to place a future call toward the professional or the associate.

Abstract: To enable a user to readily determine the gauge of the needle of a needle assembly that has a base and a needle protective housing pivotably attached thereto, the needle assembly is injection molded from a color coded molding material which color was preassigned to correspond to the gauge of the needle. As a result, both the base and the protective housing of the needle assembly have the same specific color, and reflect or provide an indication of the given gauge of the needle. The needle sheath that covers the needle prior to use may be made of a plastics material that may be clear, or have the same or a different color than that of the needle assembly. The gauge of the needle of a fixed needle syringe could also be ascertained by its color coded needle protective housing. Color coded markings that correspond to the gauge of the needle may also be printed onto the syringe barrel of the fixed needle syringe.

Abstract: A pressure plate is configured to be coupled to a control module of an infusion pump. First and second securing hooks may extend away from a major surface of the pressure plate proximally to a first end. Each of the securing hooks may be structured to reversibly and hingedly couple to a hinge pin of the control module. An arch may extend away from the major surface proximally to a second transverse end and be structured to be received by a latch receptacle of the control module. The pressure plate may be secured to the control module by the securing hooks and arch. Each of the securing hooks may include a bearing surface configured to bear against a hinge pin when the pressure plate is secured to the control module, each bearing surface being parallel along the longitudinal axis with respect to the first major surface to within five degrees.

Abstract: A tip protector for a safety catheter includes an outer member releasably engaged with the interior cavity of the catheter hub. The outer member includes a generally fixed radially outwardly projecting portion to provide a holding force, and an inner member axially shiftably received within the outer member. A needle cannula received in the inner and outer members is operable to axially shift the inner member between a distal position wherein the distal tip extends distally of the tip protector, and a proximal position wherein the distal tip is within the outer member. The holding force of the outer member to the interior wall of the catheter hub remains substantially constant irrespective of the position of the inner member between the distal and proximal positions.

Abstract: A safety catheter includes a catheter hub, a needle cannula having a tip, and a tip protector. The tip protector includes an outer member and an inner member therein. The outer member has a projection releasably engaging the catheter hub. The inner member has a pair of arms extending to free ends from a base. The inner member is axially shiftable relative to the outer member between a first position wherein the needle tip is distal of the tip protector and the free ends of the arms are spread apart such that the distal tip is not shielded, and a second position wherein the tip is within the inner and outer members and the free ends of the arms are brought into close proximity such that the distal tip is shielded. The inner member is entirely received within the outer member in both the fort and the second positions thereof.

Abstract: A needle device has a needle assembly including a hub having one end fitted with a blunt cannula. The blunt cannula has a base section, a central section and a shaft having a distal apertured end. The needle of the needle assembly extends through an internal passage of the blunt cannula and is sealingly fitted to a portion of the internal passage. The hub of the needle assembly has another end connectable to a syringe. When the device is connected to a syringe, a fluid communication path is established between the apertured end of the shaft and the interior of the syringe via the lumen of the needle. The shaft of the blunt cannula is usable to pierce the seal of a fluid store while maintaining the needle in an unused state for subsequent patient use. The distal end of the shaft may be protected by an end cap.