Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.

Hypoguard USA Inc.

Steven R Nelson

Chad Edward Bouton

Clark E Fortney

Dale M Radcliff

Roger W Smith

Eric Hassenpflug

James A Woodard, Jr

Steven E Huckaby

Eric R Navin

Gregory Swiderski

A method is disclosed for determining the operating condition of a medical pump based on data derived from a pressure sensor and a position sensor. The pressure sensor generates pressure data by sensing the force on the pumping element. The position sensor generates position data by tracking the pumping cycle and determining the position of the pumping element. The pump pressure data and pump position data are processed and the calculated results compared with a pre-determined threshold value to determine the operating condition of the pump. The three main types of operating conditions of concern are the following: normal condition, where liquid is present and no leaks exist in pumping chamber; leak condition, where liquid is present but a leak exists in the pumping chamber; and air stroke condition, where the chamber contains some air.

Method for discriminating between operating conditions in medical pump

A hypodermic syringe includes a barrel with a plunger slidably extending therein. The plunger includes an outer plunger element and an inner plunger element telescoping together. A plunger cap may be advanced after injection to rotate the plunger. A resistance lock retains the cap and plunger indexed until actuation. The rotation actuates latches and locking fingers on the luer hub to engage a probe axially and rotationally on the seal end of the plunger and disengage the slots in the barrel, respectively. The rotation disengages the seal stop to release the annular seal and finally releases the engagement between the outer plunger element and inner plunger element. The foregoing provides for the retraction of the luer hub and associated needle into the barrel.

Retractable hypodermic syringe

A medical pump, for use with a cassette having a pumping chamber, includes a pumping element with a piston slider assembly which intermittently pressurizes the pumping chamber during a pumping cycle and has a piston head connected to a main body with a single pressure sensor positioned therebetween. A camshaft is associated with the pumping element, an inlet control element, and an outlet control element for closing the pumping chamber to flow when the pumping chamber is pressurized. A processing unit receives pressure and position data from the pressure sensor and a position sensor associated with the pumping element, and processes this data to determine the operating condition of the pump. The operating conditions determined include: blocked fluid flow, no fluid in the line, no cassette associated with the pump, proper pump priming, or proper valve sealing.

Means for using single force sensor to supply all necessary information for determination of status of medical pump

An air bag for use in connection with a gas generator is provided. The air bag is of a double-wall construction. The air bag is fitted to the housing of a gas generator and a gas jet opening for allowing the air bag to communicate with the housing is provided. A gas generated by the gas generator due to an impact is charged into the air bag. The air bag has a double-wall structure including a first air bag and a second air bag having a greater capacity than the first air bag disposed about and attached to the first air bag. The first air bag constitutes an air storage chamber which receives air from the atmosphere through an air intake path and stores the air. A gas storage chamber is formed between the first and second air bags which receives a combustion gas from the gas jet opening and temporarily stores the combustion gas. The air intake path is typically a hollow path between the atmosphere and the air storage chamber. The first air bag has an opening therein which establishes communication between the gas storage chamber and the air storage chamber.

Air bag having double-wall construction

Growing community of inventors

Grove City, OH, United States of America

Steven R Nelson