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 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 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 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.