Abstract: A docking station for removable connection to an enteral feeding pump enables automated flushing of an administration set loaded in the enteral feeding pump. The docking station may have a valve seat configured to receive a switchable flow valve of the administration set, a flush controller, an actuator connected to the flush controller and configured to releasably mate with the switchable flow valve when the switchable flow valve is received by the valve seat, and data communication means by which data signals sent by the enteral feeding pump are inputted to the flush controller of the docking station when the enteral feeding pump is connected to the docking station. In operation, the flush controller may receive a flush command sent by the enteral feeding pump and transmit a control signal to the actuator for switching the switchable flow valve to a flush position in response to the flush command.

Abstract: A peristaltic infusion pump system has a convex platen surface opposite a linear peristaltic pumping mechanism. The convex platen surface may be part of a cassette of an administration set removably loadable in an infusion pump, or the convex platen surface may be a feature of the pump itself. Pumping efficiency is improved without giving up the ability to have independently controlled compensating fingers. The convex platen surface may have a trapezoidal profile, a curved profile, or a hybrid profile having upstream and downstream inclined portions connected by an intermediate curved portion.

Abstract: A cassette usable with an infusion pump includes a monolithic cassette body and a segment of resiliently deformable tubing for conveying a flow of liquid. The monolithic cassette body has an integrally formed free-flow protection device including a fixed pinch element and a deflectable pinch arm having a movable pinch element. The pinch arm normally resides in a closed position wherein the pinch elements cooperate to deform the tubing segment to stop flow. The pinch arm is resiliently deflectable away from the closed position to an open position permitting flow. Deflection of the pinch arm away from the closed position spring biases the pinch arm for automatic return to the closed position. The pinch arm may be moved to the open position by operating a door of the pump when the cassette is loaded in the pump, and manually for priming when the cassette is not loaded in the pump.

Abstract: An infusion pump having one or more magnetic pressure sensors for detecting tubing occlusions is provided with at least one corresponding secondary Hall effect sensor arranged to detect an ambient magnetic field influencing pressure measurements so that corrective action may be taken to mitigate the effects of the ambient magnetic field.

Abstract: An infusion pump has an optical cassette detection system for determining whether or not a cassette of an administration tubing set is properly loaded in the pump. Operation of the pump may be enabled or disabled based on a determination of the cassette detection system. The cassette detection system includes a light emitter and a corresponding photosensitive detector aligned along an optical axis, and window carried by the cassette. When the cassette is properly loaded in the pump, a light beam from the emitter enters the window, where a portion of the beam is absorbed and another portion of the beam is transmitted for receipt by the detector. The detector signal is evaluated by signal evaluation electronics to determine if the cassette is loaded. The determination may be based on an expected attenuation of the light beam corresponding to a predetermined light absorptance property of the window.

Abstract: A cassette for operatively connecting administration set tubing to an infusion pump includes a thumb tab having a thumb surface, and a tubing connector having an in-line occluder spaced laterally from the thumb tab. The cassette is configured such that a user's hand will cradle the cassette by pressing a thumb of the user's hand against the thumb surface and wrapping at least one finger of the user's hand around and under the thumb tab, whereby a user may apply pressure to tubing connected to the tubing connector at a location corresponding to the in-line occluder in a direction generally opposite to a direction in which the thumb is pressed against the thumb surface, thereby bypassing the in-line occluder and allowing flow through the tubing.

Abstract: A cassette apparatus for an infusion pump includes a cassette for operatively connecting administration set tubing to the infusion pump and a cassette interface a cassette interface on the infusion pump for removably receiving the cassette. The cassette includes a press tab having an upwardly facing press surface and an undersurface, and the cassette interface includes at least one fulcrum member, wherein the undersurface of the press tab engages the fulcrum member(s) when the cassette is received by the cassette interface. As a result, the cassette is pivotable relative to fulcrum member(s) by pressing the press surface of the press tab to assist in removing the cassette from the cassette interface.

Abstract: A cassette apparatus for an infusion pump includes a cassette for operatively connecting administration set tubing to the infusion pump and a cassette interface a cassette interface on the infusion pump for removably receiving the cassette. The cassette includes a press tab having an upwardly facing press surface and an undersurface, and the cassette interface includes at least one fulcrum member, wherein the undersurface of the press tab engages the fulcrum member(s) when the cassette is received by the cassette interface. As a result, the cassette is pivotable relative to fulcrum member(s) by pressing the press surface of the press tab to assist in removing the cassette from the cassette interface.

Abstract: In an infusion pump operable to deliver fluid to a patient at a programmed therapy flow rate, air-in-line sensing is improved by commanding the pumping mechanism to deliver a bolus volume of fluid at a flow rate higher than the therapy flow rate when an uninterrupted volume of air is detected that exceeds a first threshold. In many cases, the bolus will be effective to clear microbubbles from an observation zone of the air-in-line sensor to avoid an air-in-line alarm condition. If the uninterrupted volume of air continues to grow beyond a second threshold in spite of the bolus, then an alarm may be triggered. The invention reduces false alarms.

Abstract: Methods for improving the accuracy of occlusion sensor baselines in an infusion pump are described. An infusion pump includes logic for making an antiratchet decision for determining whether a new administration set was installed after there has been access to the administration set. If so, then new occlusion sensor baselines are established. If not, then the current baselines are maintained. The antiratchet decision logic may depend upon the value of a baseline delta equal to a difference between the upstream sensor signal and the downstream sensor signal. In another aspect, an upstream occlusion sensor baseline is shifted in correspondence with decreases in the upstream sensor signal occurring while a pumping mechanism of the infusion pump is not operating to compensate for sensor signal drift.

Abstract: An improved safety occluder and method of use provides an occluder for an infusion set having a first, occluding position, a second, non-occluding position which returns to the first, occluding position when the occluder's plunger is released, and a third, non-occluding position which retains the plunger in a configuration which allows fluid flow through the infusion set. The occluder may also include a locking mechanism to prevent accidental movement of the plunger out of the first, occluding position.

Abstract: A pressure monitoring system allows for more accurate and reliable measurement of the pressure inside of a tube in a pump. The pressure monitoring system prevents movement of the tubing or a change in size of the tubing due to external forces applied to the pump, eliminating inaccuracies due to handling of the pump during use.

Abstract: A universal air bubble detector allows for use with a variety of sizes and types of tubing. The detector maintains proper alignment of a sensor emitter and receiver with different sizes of tubing. The detector may be mounted on existing equipment or may be used to monitor a tubing at any position along the tubing, and may operate in a stand alone mode or in combination with existing equipment.

Abstract: A system for selectively preventing free flow in a tube includes an in-line occluder disposed in the tube and an actuator pad for creating a flow path between the tube and the occluder. The actuation pad presses towards the occluder from a single side and stretches the tube to create a large flow path. The occluder stem is strengthened to resist deformation and damage from the forces applied by the actuator pad.