Abstract: A cassette which is adapted to be insertable into and removable from an infusion pump. The cassette has a housing, a length of flexible tubing supported by the housing, and a first vertically movable member disposed in the housing. The first vertically movable member has a slot formed therein, and a portion of the flexible tubing is disposed within the slot. The first vertically movable member is movable between a clamped position in which the flexible tubing is clamped to prevent any substantial liquid flow therethrough and an unclamped position in which substantial liquid flow through the flexible tubing is enabled, and a spring is provided for biasing the first vertically movable member to the clamped position. The first vertically movable member may be designed so that the closure of a door of an infusion pump in which the cassette is inserted will cause the vertically movable member to be in the unclamped position to allow liquid flow through the flexible tubing.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically testing an infusion pump is provided with a pump tester adapted to be coupled to an infusion pump for performing a plurality of tests on the pump. The pump tester performs a first type of test on the pump and a second type of test on the pump. The testing apparatus automatically causes the infusion pump to undergo an operation sequence in which the infusion pump pumps liquid during the performance of at least one of the tests. Whereas the normal operation of the infusion pump is controlled by an infusion pump input device which is capable of generating a plurality of electronic signals in response to manual activation of the input device by a user, the pump tester automatically causes the infusion pump to undergo its operation during testing may include generating a plurality of testing commands.

Abstract: A cassette which is adapted to be insertable into and removable from an infusion pump. The cassette has a housing, a length of flexible tubing supported by the housing, and a first vertically movable member disposed in the housing. The first vertically movable member has a slot formed therein, and a portion of the flexible tubing is disposed within the slot. The first vertically movable member is movable between a clamped position in which the flexible tubing is clamped to prevent any substantial liquid flow therethrough and an unclamped position in which substantial liquid flow through the flexible tubing is enabled, and a spring is provided for biasing the first vertically movable member to the clamped position. The first vertically movable member may be designed so that the closure of a door of an infusion pump in which the cassette is inserted will cause the vertically movable member to be in the unclamped position to allow liquid flow through the flexible tubing.

Abstract: A medical treatment apparatus is provided with a programmable medical device disposed at a first room location and a remote monitor and/or controller disposed at a second room location. The programmable medical device is used to administer a medical treatment to a patient, and the remote monitor/controller may be used to monitor the operation of the medical device, control the operation of the medical device, and/or to transfer data from the medical device to the remote monitor/controller. The apparatus may allow voice communication between the remote monitor/controller and the patient who is receiving treatment via the medical device while the medical device is being monitored and/or controlled from the remote location. The remote monitor/controller may also include means for determining the type of medical device to which it is connected. The programmable medical device includes various types of sensors for generating patient medical condition data which is transmitted to the remote monitor/controller.

Abstract: A medical apparatus is provided with a programmable medical device disposed at a first room location and a remote monitor and/or controller disposed at a second room location. The programmable medical device is used to administer a medical treatment to a patient, and the remote monitor/controller may be used to monitor the operation of the medical device, control the operation of the medical device, and/or to transfer data from the medical device to the remote monitor/controller. The apparatus may allow voice communication between the remote monitor/controller and the patient who is receiving treatment via the medical device while the medical device is being monitored and/or controlled from the remote location. The remote monitor/controller may also include means for determining the type of medical device to which it is connected.

Abstract: A medical apparatus is provided with a programmable medical device disposed at a first room location and a remote monitor and/or controller disposed at a second room location. The programmable medical device is used to administer a medical treatment to a patient, and the remote monitor/controller may be used to monitor the operation of the medical device, control the operation of the medical device, and/or to transfer data from the medical device to the remote monitor/controller. The apparatus may allow voice communication between the remote monitor/controller and the patient who is receiving treatment via the medical device while the medical device is being monitored and/or controlled from the remote location. The remote monitor/controller may also include means for determining the type of medical device to which it is connected.

Abstract: An infusion apparatus for infusing liquid into a patient over an infusion period beginning with an initial infusion and ending with a final infusion and during which infusion period all relevant infusion data is stored in a non-volatile memory to generate a complete historical record of the infusions administered during the infusion period. The infusion apparatus is provided with a housing, a pump disposed in the housing and adapted to pump liquid through a conduit, and a controller operatively coupled to the pump to cause the pump to deliver a plurality of infusions of liquid medicant during the infusion period, each of the infusions being made at a time and a flow rate. The infusion data stored in the non-volatile memory may include programmed infusion data input to the infusion pump during programming of the pump, the programmed data including data representing the infusion mode, the infusion flow rate, the volume to be infused, and the infusion start time.

Abstract: An infusion apparatus includes a pump powered by a source of battery power and capable of operating in a plurality of infusion modes and operating in a power savings mode. The infusion apparatus further includes sensors which sense various conditions of the pump. A controller is programmed to periodically operate in a power-savings mode of operation and also selectively causes each sensor to be connected to the battery power only when the sensor is to detect a condition, thus further conserving battery power.

Abstract: An infusion apparatus for infusing liquid into a patient having a housing, a pump disposed in the housing and adapted to pump liquid through a conduit, a visual display for generating messages to the user of the infusion apparatus, a backlight associated with the visual display, and a light sensor that generates a signal indicative of the ambient light level where the infusion apparatus is being used. The infusion apparatus includes control means coupled to the light sensor and the backlight for causing the backlight to be selectively activated based on the signal generated by the light sensor. The selective illumination of the backlight saves power and is particularly advantageous when used in connection with ambulatory, battery-powered infusion pumps. The control means may cause the backlight to be activated when the ambient light level does not exceed a threshold value, and may cause the backlight to be automatically deactivated after a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An infusion method and apparatus for infusing liquid into a patient, the infusion apparatus being compatible with a plurality of different types of cassettes which are adapted to be insertable into and removable from the infusion apparatus. The infusion apparatus has a housing adapted to receive a first type of cassette and a second type of cassette, a pump disposed in the housing and adapted to pump liquid through a conduit, and a cassette sensor disposed in the housing, the cassette sensor being capable of determining whether the first type of cassette is inserted into the housing or the second type of cassette is inserted into the housing. The infusion apparatus includes control means for controlling the operation of the pump which causes a first course of control action to be taken when the first type of cassette is inserted into the housing and a second course of control action to be taken when the second type of cassette is inserted into the housing.

Abstract: An infusion apparatus for infusing liquid into a patient having a housing, a pump disposed in the housing and adapted to pump liquid through a conduit, a visual display for generating messages to the user of the infusion apparatus, a backlight associated with the visual display, and a light sensor that generates a signal indicative of the ambient light level where the infusion apparatus is being used. The infusion apparatus includes control means coupled to the light sensor and the backlight for causing the backlight to be selectively activated based on the signal generated by the light sensor. The selective illumination of the backlight saves power and is particularly advantageous when used in connection with ambulatory, battery-powered infusion pumps. The control means may cause the backlight to be activated when the ambient light level does not exceed a threshold value, and may cause the backlight to be automatically deactivated after a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An infusion apparatus having a pump powered by a source of battery power and a controller that performs a plurality of processing tasks related to the pumping of liquid through a conduit. The controller is operable in a normal mode of operation utilizing a first rate of power consumption from the source of battery power. The infusion apparatus includes control means for causing the controller to operate in a first power-saving mode of operation utilizing a second rate of power consumption, the second rate of power consumption being lower than the first rate of power consumption, and the control means causes the controller to operate in a second power-saving mode of operation utilizing a third rate of power consumption, the third rate of power consumption being lower than the first rate of power consumption.

Abstract: An infusion apparatus for infusing liquid into a patient and having a housing adapted to receive a cassette with a flexible tube through which liquid may be pumped, a pump disposed within the housing and adapted to pump liquid through the flexible tube of the cassette, and a door, connected to the housing, which has an open position and a closed position. The apparatus includes latching means for maintaining the door in the closed position and first and second release means operatively coupled to the latching means. The first and second release means are independently operable so that the door is released by the latching means only upon actuation of both the first and second release means. As a result, inadvertent opening of the door due to jarring of the infusion apparatus is minimized or prevented.

Abstract: An infusion pump which can be programmed to deliver any of a variety of selected profiles of fluid medicine volume delivered over time. The pump can be programmed to accommodate any of a variety of the commonly available sizes and types of disposable tubing. The preferred embodiment uses a variable speed motor, peristaltic fingers, a keyboard, a microprocessor chip with memory, and a motor controller.