Warner-lambert Company

Baxter International Inc.

Imed Corporation

Clinton L Deckert

Larry L Wilson

James T Maerzke

Jon A Jenkins

Jeffrey P Brown

A unitary molded elastomer conduit for use with a medical infusion pump. The molded conduit includes a plurality of elongated tubular sections defining a continuous lumen therethrough. A first interior surface of the molded conduit includes an interior region having surface characteristics for clamping off the lumen to stop the flow of fluid transport, or for clamping the lumen for use with the peristaltic mechanism of the medical infusion pump. Another interior surface is provided in the molded conduit which is associated with another of the plurality of elongated sections of the integral elastomer conduit. The second interior surface defines a second interior region having surface characteristics for coupling ultrasound across the conduit traversed to the lumen in order to detect gas entrainment and the like. The second interior region thus provides a textured surface relative to the first interior region to direct the signal energy from the signal coupled across the conduit traversed to the lumen. Additionally, external features may be provided for positioning the plurality of elongated tubular sections of the conduit relative to the peristaltic pumping mechanism of the medical infusion pump for fluid transport and characterization.

Unitary molded elastomer conduit for use with a medical infusion pump

A system for controlling the flow of intravenous fluids to a patient provides for the sequential administration of two different intravenous fluids at independently preselected drop rates. The system includes a primary administration set associated with a first fluid container, a secondary administration set associated with a second fluid container, and a controller having a control valve operatively associated with both administration sets to control the fluid flow rate through the particular administration set in use. The system further comprises a connector means in the primary administration set, upstream from the control valve, for joining the secondary administration set to the primary administration set. A one-way valve, disposed in the primary administration set upstream from the connector means, prevents fluid flow through the one-way valve whenever hydrostatic pressure in the secondary set is greater than the hydrostatic pressure in the primary set. Drop sensors, operatively associated with drip chambers in each of the administration sets, are electrically connected with the controller to monitor and sense whether there is fluid flow in the particular system. The controller also includes a pinching device which is activated to pinch IV tubing in the secondary set when the controller either senses no flow rate through the secondary set or senses a sufficient flow rate in the primary set. This pinching action causes an instantaneous reversal of the hydrostatic pressure differential at the one-way valve and permits immediate fluid flow from the first fluid container at a controlled rate through the primary administration set to the patient.

Controller for a dual drug delivery system

Apparatus controls the rate of passage of fluid drops through a drip controller in accordance with a preset rate. When the rate of passage of the fluid drops is less than the preset rate, a stepper motor is incrementally operated at progressive instants of time to open the drip chamber until the measured rate is equal to the preset rate. When the rate of passage of the fluid drops is greater than the preset rate, the stepper motor is operated instantaneously to close the passage through a number of increments corresponding to the difference in the measured and preset rates. An alarm is energized when the stepper motor is positioned to provide for a maximum flow of fluid and the rate is still below the preset rate. An alarm is also energized when the passage is closed and the preset rate indicates a desired flow of fluid. An emergency motor is also provided to control the opening in the passage. Before the operation of the apparatus is instituted, the stepper motor is operated to close the drip chamber. The emergency motor is then operated to open the drip chamber and thereafter close the drip chamber. The emergency motor may thereafter be operated to close the passage when the drop controller fails to meet certain standards.

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Poway, CA, United States of America

Clinton L Deckert