Abstract: An infusion pump apparatus includes a length of resilient tubing removably loadable in an infusion pump having a housing, a pumping mechanism, and a pump door. A latch member is pivotally mounted to the pump door and cooperates with a latch pin fixed on pump housing. A free-flow protection device is biased to pinch the tubing closed to stop fluid flow. The latch member has a first range of pivotal motion in a latching direction for causing the latch member to engage with the latch pin to secure the door in a closed position and a second range of pivotal motion in the latching direction for causing the latch member to actuate the free-flow protection device to unpinch the tubing and allow flow. The latch member pivots through at least a portion of the first range of pivotal motion before beginning to pivot through the second range of pivotal motion.

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: A pumping finger subassembly for a peristaltic infusion pump has a housing, a pinch member, a block member, and at least one biasing spring. The housing includes a transverse slot, a first side wall, and an open second side through which the pinch member and biasing spring(s) are inserted into the transverse slot. The block member includes a foot portion and a side wall portion. The foot portion is insertable into the housing through the open second side such that the block member is constrained against movement relative to the housing and the side wall portion of the block member opposes the first side wall of the housing, whereby the pinch member is supported on both lateral sides to prevent tilting of the pinch member.

Abstract: A platen assembly positionable opposite a pumping mechanism of an infusion pump has a first platen member rotatably coupled to the pump to pivot about a first hinge axis and a second platen member rotatably coupled to the first platen member to pivot about a second hinge axis different from the first hinge axis. When the platen assembly is in a pump operating position, respective platen surfaces of the platen members follow a single surface profile, for example an arcuate surface profile in the case of a curvilinear peristaltic pump. The platen assembly may have a damage-tolerant design including a plurality of alignment counter-features arranged to mate with corresponding alignment features on the pump, wherein the platen assembly may still close after the pump is dropped or damaged only if resulting deformation of the platen assembly is within an allowable tolerance for safe pumping.

Abstract: An administration set for an infusion pump includes a free-flow prevention device having a movable plunger that includes a cam surface defining an uneven profile along a direction of movement of the plunger, wherein the shape of the cam surface profile indicates the administration set is authorized for use with the infusion pump and may further indicate the specific type of administration set. A sensor in the infusion pump senses movement of the plunger as a platen of the infusion pump is latched and generates a profile signal in the time domain representative of the cam surface profile. A processor evaluates the profile signal and controls operation of the pump to protect a patient from improper loading of an administration set, use of an unauthorized administration set, and/or use of an invalid type of administration set for a chosen infusion protocol.

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: An administration set for an infusion pump includes a free-flow prevention device having a movable plunger that includes a cam surface defining an uneven profile along a direction of movement of the plunger, wherein the shape of the cam surface profile indicates the administration set is authorized for use with the infusion pump and may further indicate the specific type of administration set. A sensor in the infusion pump senses movement of the plunger as a platen of the infusion pump is latched and generates a profile signal in the time domain representative of the cam surface profile. A processor evaluates the profile signal and controls operation of the pump to protect a patient from improper loading of an administration set, use of an unauthorized administration set, and/or use of an invalid type of administration set for a chosen infusion protocol.

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: A pumping finger subassembly for a peristaltic infusion pump has a housing, a pinch member, a block member, and at least one biasing spring. The housing includes a transverse slot, a first side wall, and an open second side through which the pinch member and biasing spring(s) are inserted into the transverse slot. The block member includes a foot portion and a side wall portion. The foot portion is insertable into the housing through the open second side such that the block member is constrained against movement relative to the housing and the side wall portion of the block member opposes the first side wall of the housing, whereby the pinch member is supported on both lateral sides to prevent tilting of the pinch member.

Abstract: A pumping finger subassembly for a peristaltic infusion pump has a housing, a pinch member, a block member, and at least one biasing spring. The housing includes a transverse slot, a first side wall, and an open second side through which the pinch member and biasing spring(s) are inserted into the transverse slot. The block member includes a foot portion and a side wall portion. The foot portion is insertable into the housing through the open second side such that the block member is constrained against movement relative to the housing and the side wall portion of the block member opposes the first side wall of the housing, whereby the pinch member is supported on both lateral sides to prevent tilting of the pinch member.

Abstract: A pumping finger subassembly for a peristaltic infusion pump has a housing, a pinch member, a block member, and at least one biasing spring. The housing includes a transverse slot, a first side wall, and an open second side through which the pinch member and biasing spring(s) are inserted into the transverse slot. The block member includes a foot portion and a side wall portion. The foot portion is insertable into the housing through the open second side such that the block member is constrained against movement relative to the housing and the side wall portion of the block member opposes the first side wall of the housing, whereby the pinch member is supported on both lateral sides to prevent tilting of the pinch member.

Abstract: A platen assembly positionable opposite a pumping mechanism of an infusion pump has a first platen member rotatably coupled to the pump to pivot about a first hinge axis and a second platen member rotatably coupled to the first platen member to pivot about a second hinge axis different from the first hinge axis. When the platen assembly is in a pump operating position, respective platen surfaces of the platen members follow a single surface profile, for example an arcuate surface profile in the case of a curvilinear peristaltic pump. The platen assembly may have a damage-tolerant design including a plurality of alignment counter-features arranged to mate with corresponding alignment features on the pump, wherein the platen assembly may still close after the pump is dropped or damaged only if resulting deformation of the platen assembly is within an allowable tolerance for safe pumping.

Abstract: An infusion pump apparatus includes a length of resilient tubing removably loadable in an infusion pump having a housing, a pumping mechanism, and a pump door. A latch member is pivotally mounted to the pump door and cooperates with a latch pin fixed on pump housing. A free-flow protection device is biased to pinch the tubing closed to stop fluid flow. The latch member has a first range of pivotal motion in a latching direction for causing the latch member to engage with the latch pin to secure the door in a closed position and a second range of pivotal motion in the latching direction for causing the latch member to actuate the free-flow protection device to unpinch the tubing and allow flow. The latch member pivots through at least a portion of the first range of pivotal motion before beginning to pivot through the second range of pivotal motion.

Abstract: An infusion pump apparatus includes a length of resilient tubing removably loadable in an infusion pump having a housing, a pumping mechanism, and a pump door. A latch member is pivotally mounted to the pump door and cooperates with a latch pin fixed on pump housing. A free-flow protection device is biased to pinch the tubing closed to stop fluid flow. The latch member has a first range of pivotal motion in a latching direction for causing the latch member to engage with the latch pin to secure the door in a closed position and a second range of pivotal motion in the latching direction for causing the latch member to actuate the free-flow protection device to unpinch the tubing and allow flow. The latch member pivots through at least a portion of the first range of pivotal motion before beginning to pivot through the second range of pivotal motion.

Abstract: An administration set for an infusion pump includes a free-flow prevention device having a movable plunger that includes a cam surface defining an uneven profile along a direction of movement of the plunger, wherein the shape of the cam surface profile indicates the administration set is authorized for use with the infusion pump and may further indicate the specific type of administration set. A sensor in the infusion pump senses movement of the plunger as a platen of the infusion pump is latched and generates a profile signal in the time domain representative of the cam surface profile. A processor evaluates the profile signal and controls operation of the pump to protect a patient from improper loading of an administration set, use of an unauthorized administration set, and/or use of an invalid type of administration set for a chosen infusion protocol.