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 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 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: Concomitant measurement of EtCO.sub.2, EtN.sub.2 and (FiO.sub.2 -FeO.sub.2) concentrations are used to detect a VAE. In a respiratory gas monitoring system, continuous measurements of end-tidal carbon dioxide, end-tidal nitrogen and the difference between inspired and expired oxygen concentrations are averaged using a predetermined time period and stored as historical data. Periodically, a present value of each of these concentrations is compared to its respective historical average for a predetermined time period. If the following conditions are met, the device signals the presence of a venous air embolism: 1) a decrease in the EtCO.sub.2 concentration of 1.5 mm Hg; 2) an increase in the FeN.sub.2 concentration of 0.03 vol %; and 3) a decrease in the difference between the inspired oxygen concentration and the expired oxygen concentration of 0.20 vol %.

Abstract: The concentration of multiple polyatomic gases are determined simultaneously by Raman light scattering. The gas sample is placed in a sampling cell and a polarized laser beam is passed through the cell, along a longitudinal axis. A portion of the light scattered by the gas sample is captured and detected by means of multiple collection optics-filter-detector channels. The scattered light exits the gas cell via windows located in the sides of the gas cell and enters the collection channels which are aligned with the cell windows. The cell windows are along the longitudinal axis of the laser beam and gas cell. Light scattered by the gas sample provides signals of both inelastic Raman scattered light and elastic laser scattered light which are directed to the collection channels. The optics of each channel transports the scattered light signals onto a laser line rejection filter where the elastic scattered laser signals are attenuated.