Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Zodiac Pool Care, Inc.

John D Gjata

Mike W Lawless

Thomas A Kramer

Andrew J Scherer

Michael W Lawless

Stephen J Kreinick

Peter A Soberon

Stephanie R Squarcia

Han Le

Thomas M Nornberg

John Bent

Robert Brose

Dave Peterson

David Johnston

Scott M Defenbaugh

Ken Peterson

Alex P Soberon

Kevin Emery

Dan Kellogg

Systems for controlling aspects of recreational or other environments are described. Such systems are especially, but not exclusively, useful for controlling either or both of pool or spa settings and operations and include equipment that may be connected, in any appropriate way, to personal or other computers or other components capable of accepting and processing input. Operations of the systems additionally are capable of being simulated through software.

Swimming pool and spa controller systems and equipment

A disposable cassette for use with a medical infusion pump. An elastomeric membrane is captured between a facing member and a base of the cassette and is displaced into a pumping chamber. The elastomeric membrane includes a generally T-shaped lip, and corresponding grooves are provided on the facing member and base. As the cassette is assembled, an interference fit between the lip and the grooves causes the membrane to stretch taut and to be securely anchored, eliminating a break-in period when the cassette is initially used. &ldquo;Lobes&rdquo; of increased thickness provided on the undersurface of a portion of the elastomeric membrane overlying the pumping chamber reduce the residual volume of the pumping chamber, thereby reducing the volume of air retained within the chamber and increasing the accuracy of the cassette. The lobes also sweep air bubbles from the sides of the pumping chamber during operation, further reducing air bubbles retained in the pumping chamber. A distal tube support retains a distal fluid line between air or pressure sensors included on a pump drive mechanism, thus reducing the likelihood of sensing errors. Inlet and outlet valve flaps and corresponding seating surfaces included in the base are configured to provide quieter operation, further reduce the residual volume of the pumping chamber, increase fluid velocity through the outlet valve to sweep air bubbles from the pumping chamber, and protect against a &ldquo;blown&rdquo; inlet valve.

Disposable infusion cassette with low air bubble retention and improved valves

A drive connector for elastomerically coupling a drive shaft to a driven shaft. An elastomeric coupling includes openings on opposite ends that are generally &ldquo;D&rdquo;-shaped forming an interference fit with correspondingly shaped ends of the drive shaft and the driven shaft. A web extends transversely within the interior of the elastomeric coupling, limiting the distance that the drive shaft and driven shaft are inserted within the openings of the coupling. The coupling includes a rib that runs longitudinally along its outer length. A sleeve having a groove corresponding in size and shape to the rib is slipped over the coupling and is connected to the driven shaft. The sleeve includes a rigid interior element that is overmolded with an elastomeric material. A cam bearing is fitted over a cam surface on the sleeve and provides a force in one direction, urging a plunger to displace an elastomeric membrane in a pumping cassette, forcing medicinal fluid to flow through the pumping cassette. The elastomeric membrane provides the restoring force to the plunger, so that a loop formed on the upper portion of the plunger and disposed around the cam bearing does not receive any force from the cam bearing to move the plunger away from the pump cassette. The elastomeric coupling and sleeve form a relatively compact assembly for coupling the drive shaft to the driven shaft and accommodate minor misalignment between the center lines of the drive shaft and the driven shaft.

Elastomeric connector coupling motor to cam actuator of infusion pump

An improved rotor for use with a segmented peristaltic cartridge comprising a housing and a cover for assembly, said assembled housing and cover defining a pumping chamber which holds the improved rotor, a rotor sleeve and a section of flexible tubing wrapped around the rotor and connected to respective inlet and outlet ports of the cartridge. The flexible rotor includes an eccentric structure wherein flexible beam members provided on an outer surface of the rotor form a compliant member which improves the flexibility of the rotor assembly to avoid excessive compression loads or high torque and/or dynamic leak back or low torque for the tubing in the cartridge.

Compliant rotor for an improved cartridge for drug infusion pump

Growing community of inventors

Leucadia, CA, United States of America

John D Gjata