Abstract: A pump set for use with a pump to deliver a supply of liquid to a patient. The feeding set has a conduit for the nutrient liquid and a safety interlock device associated with the conduit. The pumping apparatus has a pumping device and a control system for controlling operation of the pump. An electromagnetic radiation source is operatively connected to the control system of the pump for emitting an electromagnetic radiation signal in a direction for striking the safety interlock device of the feeding set. The safety interlock device is adapted to affect the direction of the electromagnetic radiation. An electromagnetic radiation detector is operatively connected to the control system for receiving the electromagnetic radiation signal when the direction is affected by the safety interlock device, and providing an indication to the control system that the feeding set conduit is properly positioned in the feeding pump.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus and pump set for use to deliver a supply of liquid to a patient. The feeding set has a conduit for the nutrient liquid and a safety interlock device associated with the conduit. The pumping apparatus has a pumping device and a control system for controlling operation of the pump. An electromagnetic radiation source is operatively connected to the control system of the pump for emitting an electromagnetic radiation signal in a direction for striking the safety interlock device of the feeding set. The safety interlock device being adapted to affect the direction of the electromagnetic radiation. An electromagnetic radiation detector is operatively connected to the control system for receiving the electromagnetic radiation signal when the direction is affected by the safety interlock device, and provides an indication to the control system that the feeding set conduit is properly positioned in the feeding pump.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus and pump set for use to deliver a supply of liquid to a patient. The feeding set has a conduit for the nutrient liquid and a safety interlock device associated with the conduit. The pumping apparatus has a pumping device and a control system for controlling operation of the pump. An electromagnetic radiation source is operatively connected to the control system of the pump for emitting an electromagnetic radiation signal in a direction for striking the safety interlock device of the feeding set. The safety interlock device being adapted to affect the direction of the electromagnetic radiation. An electromagnetic radiation detector is operatively connected to the control system for receiving the electromagnetic radiation signal when the direction is affected by the safety interlock device, and provides an indication to the control system that the feeding set conduit is properly positioned in the feeding pump.

Abstract: A flow control apparatus includes a flow control apparatus adapted to load a re-certification feeding set. The apparatus further includes a software subsystem in communication with the flow control apparatus having a re-certification procedure that determines whether a user has performed manual tests on the apparatus to verify that at least one component of the apparatus is functioning within a predetermined operational range. The subsystem disables automatic testing if it determines that manual testing has not been performed and executes a reiterative process prompting the user to conduct manual testing if the subsystem determines that manual testing has been performed.

Abstract: A process for verifying that at least one component of a flow control apparatus is functioning within a predetermined operational range comprises loading a re-certification feeding set to a flow control apparatus and sensing that the re-certification feeding set has been loaded. Software comprising a re-certification procedure verifies at least one component of the flow control apparatus is functioning within a predetermined operational range.

Abstract: There is disclosed a flow control apparatus comprising a housing adapted to load an administration feeding set, and a means for driving fluid through the administration feeding set operatively engaged through the housing and adapted to engage tubing of the administration feeding set. A single motor source is operatively engaged to the means for driving fluid, such as a rotor, and adapted to be engaged to a means for controlling fluid flow, such as a valve mechanism. The single motor source is adapted to control operation of the means for driving fluid or the means for controlling fluid flow through a gear arrangement. The gear arrangement is operatively engaged with the single motor source and the means for driving fluid, as well as adapted to operatively engage the means for controlling fluid flow, and is adapted to non-simultaneously operate the means for driving fluid or the means for controlling fluid flow using a microprocessor that controls operation of at least the single motor source.

Abstract: A flow control apparatus having a flow monitoring system capable of detecting and identifying flow present within the administration feeding set loaded to the flow control apparatus is disclosed. The flow control apparatus comprises a single sensor capable of detecting the presence or absence of fluid in the administration feeding set. A software subsystem may be operatively associated with the single sensor that is capable of identifying between upstream and downstream flow conditions present within the administration feeding set loaded to the flow control apparatus.

Abstract: A prediction type electronic thermometer having an actively controlled heater element thermally isolating the probe tip from the probe shaft. Rapid and accurate temperature measurements are made using predictive algorithms. Control circuitry reads input from the temperature sensing element to compute best heater control signals so that the temperature of the probe shaft rapidly follows changes in the temperature of the probe tip. Thermal isolation between probe shaft and tip impedes heat flow from the heater element to the tip providing more accurate measurements. Rapid and accurate management of shaft temperature allows heat from the patient being measured to be most efficiently transmitted to the temperature sensor element resulting in very fast temperature measurements.

Abstract: A prediction type electronic thermometer having an actively controlled heater element thermally isolating the probe tip from the probe shaft. Rapid and accurate temperature measurements are made using predictive algorithms. Control circuitry reads input from the temperature sensing element to compute best heater control signals so that the temperature of the probe shaft rapidly follows changes in the temperature of the probe tip. Thermal isolation between probe shaft and tip impedes heat flow from the heater element to the tip providing more accurate measurements. Rapid and accurate management of shaft temperature allows heat from the patient being measured to be most efficiently transmitted to the temperature sensor element resulting in very fast temperature measurements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting power lines including a pickup coil for detecting the magnetic field generated by the current conducted by a power line and for producing a sense current in response to the detected magnetic field, a gyrator circuit for generating a sense voltage in response to the sense current and tuning means for producing an output voltage in response to the sense voltage such that a power line can be detected thereby. The tuning means also tunes the power line detecting apparatus to the predetermined frequency of the current conducted by the power lines. The power line detecting method and apparatus also preferably analyzes the magnitude and frequency of the output voltage produced by the tuning means so as to distinguish output voltages generated in response to the magnetic fields produced by power lines from those generated by extraneous electromagnetic noise.