Abstract: A waste-reducing pumping system and method for delivering a liquid to a patient according to a predetermined therapy protocol is characterized by a stored flush mode routine executable by a processor after an end-of-therapy stoppage of a pumping mechanism, whereby the pumping mechanism is operated to deliver residual liquid remaining in downstream tubing of an administration set to the patient to prevent the residual liquid from being wasted or manually administered at an unsafe rate.

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: 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: 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 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: 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: An infusion pump has an optical 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 optical detection system. The optical cassette detection system includes a light emitter and a corresponding light detector on non-coincident emission and detection axes, and at least one optical element carried by the cassette. When the cassette is properly loaded in the pump, light from the emitter is redirected by the optical element from the emission axis to the detection axis for receipt by the detector, which registers an increased signal level. The detector signal is evaluated by signal evaluation electronics to determine if the detector signal level is above a predetermined threshold, indicating presence of the cassette.

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: 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, and a window carried by the cassette that includes a fluorophore. When the cassette is properly loaded in the pump, an excitation light beam from the emitter enters the window and excites the fluorophore, causing emission light in a wavelength band distinct from that of the excitation beam to be transmitted out of the window for receipt by the detector. The detector signal is evaluated by signal evaluation electronics to determine if the signal level is above a predetermined threshold, indicating the cassette is loaded.

Abstract: An infusion pump has an optical 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 optical cassette detection system includes a light emitter directing a light beam along an optical axis to a corresponding light detector aligned on the optical axis. The cassette detection system also includes a tab carried by the cassette and arranged such that when the cassette is properly loaded in the pump, the tab intersects the optical axis and blocks at least a portion of the light beam from reaching the detector. The detector signal is evaluated by signal evaluation electronics to determine if the detector signal level is below a predetermined threshold, indicating presence of the cassette.

Abstract: An anti-free-flow mechanism includes an occluder mechanism which is disposed along a segment of tubing and a mounting structure. The occluder mechanism is normally in a biased closed position, but may be moved into an open position by placement in the mounting structure. However, unless force is applied to keep the occluder mechanism in the mounting structure, the occluder will move relative to the mounting structure and return to the first, closed position.

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: A peristaltic pump assembly comprises a pump and a removable cassette. The pump includes a pumping mechanism portion having opposed inner and outer walls defining a slot opening therebetween, and further having a cassette mounting pin extending at least partially across the slot opening. The removable cassette includes a cylindrical hinge journal and a mounting channel merging in a radial direction with the hinge journal, whereby the cassette is mounted on the mounting pin by inserting the removable cassette into the slot opening between the inner and outer walls of the pumping mechanism portion in a radial direction of the mounting pin such that the mounting pin is passed through the mounting channel and received by the hinge journal. The mounting pin and hinge journal are configured to allow the removable cassette to rotate about the mounting pin into and out of an installed position.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump assembly comprises a pump and a removable cassette. The pump includes a pumping mechanism portion having opposed inner and outer walls defining a slot opening therebetween, and further having a cassette mounting pin extending at least partially across the slot opening. The removable cassette includes a cylindrical hinge journal and a mounting channel merging in a radial direction with the hinge journal, whereby the cassette is mounted on the mounting pin by inserting the removable cassette into the slot opening between the inner and outer walls of the pumping mechanism portion in a radial direction of the mounting pin such that the mounting pin is passed through the mounting channel and received by the hinge journal. The mounting pin and hinge journal are configured to allow the removable cassette to rotate about the mounting pin into and out of an installed position.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a flexible, blood pumping membrane for use within an artificial ventricle, involves the steps of selecting a mold configured to provide a dome shaped diaphragm biased in a static mode to a systolic configuration and suitable for use within a ventricular housing as a part of a blood pumping membrane. The specific steps include forming the dome shaped diaphragm on a surface of the mold to include (i) a perimeter comprising at least a portion of a diaphragm/housing interface which is configured to connect the dome shaped diaphragm with the ventricular housing to enclose a blood pumping chamber, and (ii) an intermediate annular section of the dome shaped diaphragm extending inward from the diaphragm/housing interface in a configuration corresponding to that portion of the diaphragm when the ventricle is substantially at full systole.