Abstract: An infusion pump is provided, including a specially programmed microprocessor, a flow sensor for measuring flow from a source of fluid through an output tubing, a pumping section including a plurality of fingers in operational relationship to the output tubing, an outlet valve associated with the output tubing, and a first actuator configured for sequentially displacing the plurality of fingers to displace fluid through the output tubing. An inlet valve is disposed between the pumping section and the source of fluid; and a second actuator is also included. For detection, by the flow sensor, of flow above a predetermined level, the microprocessor is configured for one of: closing the outlet valve independently of the inlet valve using the first actuator; and closing the inlet valve independently of the outlet valve using the second actuator.

Abstract: A drip chamber for an infusion tube, including: a first end including a drip tube; a second end including an exit port; and a wall connecting the first and second ends and including an interior surface with a hydrophobic portion. The drip chamber includes a space enclosed by the interior wall and the first and second ends. The hydrophobic portion of the interior surface repels liquid contacting the hydrophobic coating. The hydrophobic portion of the interior surface enables light to refract through the hydrophobic portion and the wall in the same manner as is the case when the hydrophobic portion is not present on the interior surface.

Abstract: A drip chamber for an infusion tube, including: a first end including a drip tube; a second end including an exit port; and a wall connecting the first and second ends and including an interior surface with a hydrophobic portion. The drip chamber includes a space enclosed by the interior wall and the first and second ends. The hydrophobic portion of the interior surface repels liquid contacting the hydrophobic coating. The hydrophobic portion of the interior surface enables light to refract through the hydrophobic portion and the wall in the same manner as is the case when the hydrophobic portion is not present on the interior surface.

Abstract: A controller for a programmable medical pump is configured to select a drug library file that corresponds to a received medication name and determine a number of times status information is received within a designated time period from a current time during an infusion therapy. The example controller is also configured to determine if the number of times the status information is received comports with an accumulated medication dosage limit using a dose per administration program parameter. Responsive to the number of times the status information is received matching or exceeding the accumulated medication dosage limit, the controller is configured to prevent another administration of the medication until enough time has passed such that the number of times the status information has been received within the designated time period from the current time is less than the accumulated medication dosage limit.

Abstract: A method of operating an infusion pump includes transmitting light through or around a drop of fluid suspended from an end of a drip tube for the infusion pump, the end of the drip tube located in a drip chamber for the infusion pump, wherein the drip tube is configured for connection to a source of the fluid; receiving, using an optical system for the pump, light transmitted through or around the drop; transmitting, to a specially programmed microprocessor and using the optical system, data regarding the received light; and, using the microprocessor to calculate a volume of the drop using the data.

Abstract: A method of operating an infusion pump includes transmitting light through or around a drop of fluid suspended from an end of a drip tube for the infusion pump, the end of the drip tube located in a drip chamber for the infusion pump, wherein the drip tube is configured for connection to a source of the fluid; receiving, using an optical system for the pump, light transmitted through or around the drop; transmitting, to a specially programmed microprocessor and using the optical system, data regarding the received light; and, using the microprocessor to calculate a volume of the drop using the data.

Abstract: A controller for a programmable medical pump comprises a memory including a plurality of preloaded infusion therapies, each preloaded infusion therapy including a plurality of program parameters. The controller also includes a device receiving a selection of one of the preloaded infusion therapies, profile data corresponding to a specific patient, and values for the program parameters. The controller further includes a processor configured to determine which of the plurality of program parameters to associate with the selected preloaded infusion therapy, determine limits for the associated program parameters based upon the selected preloaded infusion therapy and the profile data, determine if the received values of program parameters exceed the determined limits, and responsive to determining that the values of the program parameters are within the determined limits, cause the selected preloaded infusion therapy to be administered via the medical pump using the received values for the program parameters.

Abstract: A method of operating an infusion pump includes transmitting light through or around a drop of fluid suspended from an end of a drip tube for the infusion pump, the end of the drip tube located in a drip chamber for the infusion pump, wherein the drip tube is configured for connection to a source of the fluid; receiving, using an optical system for the pump, light transmitted through or around the drop; transmitting, to a specially programmed microprocessor and using the optical system, data regarding the received light; and, using the microprocessor to calculate a volume of the drop using the data.

Abstract: A method for immobilizing dyes and antimicrobial agents on a polymeric cover or housing for a medical device is disclosed and described. The surface may be that of a catheter, a connector, a drug vial spike, a bag spike, a prosthetic device, an endoscope, a surface of an infusion pump, a key pad, a touch screen or a handle. The surfaces may also be one or more of those associated with a infusion of a medicament or dialysis treatment, such as peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis, where it is important that the working surface for the dialysis fluid be sterile. These surfaces include connectors for peritoneal dialysis sets or for hemodialysis sets, bag spikes, dialysis catheters, and so forth. A method for determining whether a surface has been sterilized, and a dye useful in so indicating, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A drip chamber for an infusion tube, including: a first end including a drip tube; a second end including an exit port; and a wall connecting the first and second ends and including an interior surface with a hydrophobic portion. The drip chamber includes a space enclosed by the interior wall and the first and second ends. The hydrophobic portion of the interior surface repels liquid contacting the hydrophobic coating. The hydrophobic portion of the interior surface enables light to refract through the hydrophobic portion and the wall in the same manner as is the case when the hydrophobic portion is not present on the interior surface.

Abstract: A drip chamber for an infusion tube, including: a first end including a drip tube; a second end including an exit port; and a wall connecting the first and second ends and including an interior surface with a hydrophobic portion. The drip chamber includes a space enclosed by the interior wall and the first and second ends. The hydrophobic portion of the interior surface repels liquid contacting the hydrophobic coating. The hydrophobic portion of the interior surface enables light to refract through the hydrophobic portion and the wall in the same manner as is the case when the hydrophobic portion is not present on the interior surface.

Abstract: A drip chamber for an infusion tube that includes a first end arranged to receive a drip tube, a second end including an exit port, at least one wall connecting the first and second ends, a space enclosed by the first and second ends and the at least one wall, and first and second lenses each directly fixed to said at least one wall.

Abstract: A drip chamber for an infusion tube, including: a first end arranged to receive a drip tube; a second end including an exit port; at least one wall connecting the first and second ends; a space enclosed by the first and second ends and the at least one wall; and at least one lens integral to the at least one wall or directly fixed to the at least one wall.

Abstract: An infusion pump is provided, including a specially programmed microprocessor, a flow sensor for measuring flow from a source of fluid through an output tubing, a pumping section including a plurality of fingers in operational relationship to the output tubing, an outlet valve associated with the output tubing, and a first actuator configured for sequentially displacing the plurality of fingers to displace fluid through the output tubing. An inlet valve is disposed between the pumping section and the source of fluid; and a second actuator is also included. For detection, by the flow sensor, of flow above a predetermined level, the microprocessor is configured for one of: closing the outlet valve independently of the inlet valve using the first actuator; and closing the inlet valve independently of the outlet valve using the second actuator.

Abstract: A method for immobilizing dyes and antimicrobial agents on a polymeric cover or housing for a medical device is disclosed and described. The surface may be that of a catheter, a connector, a drug vial spike, a bag spike, a prosthetic device, an endoscope, a surface of an infusion pump, a key pad, a touch screen or a handle. The surfaces may also be one or more of those associated with a infusion of a medicament or dialysis treatment, such as peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis, where it is important that the working surface for the dialysis fluid be sterile. These surfaces include connectors for peritoneal dialysis sets or for hemodialysis sets, bag spikes, dialysis catheters, and so forth. A method for determining whether a surface has been sterilized, and a dye useful in so indicating, is also disclosed.

Abstract: An infusion pump, including: a specially programmed microprocessor; a drip chamber for connection to a source of fluid and to an output tubing; a pumping section including a plurality of fingers and a first actuator, controllable using the microprocessor, for sequentially displacing the plurality of finger to compress a first portion of the output tubing to displace fluid from the drip chamber through the output tubing; an inlet valve disposed between the drip chamber and the pumping section and arranged to compress the output tubing to restrict or block flow through the output tubing; and a second actuator, controllable using the microprocessor, for opening or closing the inlet valve independent of the displacement of the plurality of fingers; or for operating the inlet valve to control a rate of flow of fluid from the drip chamber to the portion of the output tubing.

Abstract: An optical imaging system for use with an infusion tube having a drip chamber and an output tube. The drip chamber includes a first portion with a drip tube, a second portion with an exit port, and a third portion between the first and second portions. The optical imaging system includes: an illumination system with at least one light source for emitting light, an optical system, and a memory element storing computer executable instructions. The optical system receives the light transmitted by the output tube or the second portion and transmits data characterizing the received light. The system includes at least one processor configured to execute the computer executable instructions to: detect, using the data, an air bubble in the output tube or the second portion; and determine a volume of the detected air bubble.

Abstract: A method for immobilizing dyes and antimicrobial agents on a polymeric cover or housing for a medical device is disclosed and described. The surface may be that of a catheter, a connector, a drug vial spike, a bag spike, a prosthetic device, an endoscope, a surface of an infusion pump, a key pad, a touch screen or a handle. The surfaces may also be one or more of those associated with a infusion of a medicament or dialysis treatment, such as peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis, where it is important that the working surface for the dialysis fluid be sterile. These surfaces include connectors for peritoneal dialysis sets or for hemodialysis sets, bag spikes, dialysis catheters, and so forth. A method for determining whether a surface has been sterilized, and a dye useful in so indicating, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A drip chamber for an infusion tube, including: a first end including a drip tube; a second end including an exit port; and a wall connecting the first and second ends and including an interior surface with a hydrophobic portion. The drip chamber includes a space enclosed by the interior wall and the first and second ends. The hydrophobic portion of the interior surface repels liquid contacting the hydrophobic coating. The hydrophobic portion of the interior surface enables light to refract through the hydrophobic portion and the wall in the same manner as is the case when the hydrophobic portion is not present on the interior surface.

Abstract: A method of operating an infusion pump includes transmitting light through or around a drop of fluid suspended from an end of a drip tube for the infusion pump, the end of the drip tube located in a drip chamber for the infusion pump, wherein the drip tube is configured for connection to a source of the fluid; receiving, using an optical system for the pump, light transmitted through or around the drop; transmitting, to a specially programmed microprocessor and using the optical system, data regarding the received light; and, using the microprocessor to calculate a volume of the drop using the data.