U.S. patent application number 11/357105 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-29 for infusion device.
This patent application is currently assigned to TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Akio Kutsuzawa.
Application Number | 20060140798 11/357105 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34220639 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060140798 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kutsuzawa; Akio |
June 29, 2006 |
Infusion device
Abstract
A user-friendly infusion device is provided, and more
particularly, a infusion device including a user interface capable
of providing necessary alarms to a user (a healthcare worker) when
problems occur when setting a dose and a infusion flow rate before
a infusion. The infusion device includes: a setting unit for
setting a dose and a infusion flow rate, or the like; and a display
unit for displaying the dose and the infusion flow rate, or the
like, and is characterized in that when the infusion flow rate
(mL/h) is input in the setting unit, the flow rate is increased or
decreased step by step in synchronization with a buzzer sound for
each press of a 100-digit key. Also, the infusion device includes:
a setting unit for setting a dose and a infusion flow rate, or the
like; and a display unit for displaying the dose and the infusion
flow rate, or the like, and is characterized in that lengths
thresholds of detected air is classified into two predetermined
stages so that either one can be selected.
Inventors: |
Kutsuzawa; Akio;
(Fujinomiya-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BUCHANAN INGERSOLL PC;(INCLUDING BURNS, DOANE, SWECKER & MATHIS)
POST OFFICE BOX 1404
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Assignee: |
TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
34220639 |
Appl. No.: |
11/357105 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/JP04/10727 |
Jul 28, 2004 |
|
|
|
11357105 |
Feb 21, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
417/474 ;
604/131 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 2205/18 20130101;
A61M 5/14228 20130101; A61M 5/16831 20130101; A61M 2205/581
20130101; G16H 20/17 20180101; A61M 5/365 20130101; A61M 2205/505
20130101; A61M 2205/3375 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/474 ;
604/131 |
International
Class: |
F04B 43/08 20060101
F04B043/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 21, 2003 |
JP |
2003-208262 |
Jun 14, 2004 |
JP |
2004-175000 |
Claims
1. A infusion device comprising: a setting unit for setting a dose
and a infusion flow rate, or the like; and a display unit for
displaying said dose and said infusion flow rate, or the like,
wherein when said infusion flow rate (mL/h) is input in said
setting unit, the flow rate is increased or decreased step by step
in synchronization with a buzzer sound for each press of a
100-digit key.
2. A infusion device comprising: a setting unit for setting a dose
and a infusion flow rate, or the like; and a display unit for
displaying said dose and said infusion flow rate, or the like,
wherein lengths thresholds of detected air is classified into two
stages so that either one can be selected.
3. A infusion device comprising in a door: a setting unit for
setting a dose and a infusion flow rate, or the like; and a display
unit for displaying said dose and said infusion flow rate, or the
like, wherein setting input in said setting unit is being
prohibited when said door is opened and/or during a temporary
stop.
4. A infusion device comprising in a door: a setting unit for
setting a dose and a infusion flow rate, or the like; and a display
unit for displaying said dose and said infusion flow rate, or the
like, wherein setting input in said setting unit is being
prohibited when said door is opened and/or during a start of a
infusion.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a infusion device such as a
syringe pump or a infusion pump for administering a drug to a
patient, and more particularly to a infusion pump which presses a
infusion tube to infuse a liquid drug.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] For infusions conducted in medical institutions or medical
care at home, problems sometimes occur in setting a infusion flow
rate and a dose to be infused. Consequentially, safer infusion
devices are required. In conventional infusion devices, an
operation panel is used as an user interface that includes a
setting input key for setting a flow rate, a volume to be infused
or various warnings and a display unit for displaying them
(Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-154943 and Japanese Patent
Laid-Open No. 2000-300667).
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Conventional devices, however, have problems setting an
input suitable for a field of use cannot be performed (for example,
setting the input for many flow rates). The present invention is
achieved to solve the conventional problems, and has an object to
provide a infusion device that is easily usable by use with high
safety, and more particularly, a infusion device including a user
interface capable of providing a necessary alarm to a user (a
healthcase worker) to eliminate the problems in setting a dose and
flow rate before a infusion and allowing the user to set the alarm
condition.
[0004] The above described object is achieved by a infusion device
including: a setting unit for setting a dose and a infusion flow
rate, or the like; and a display unit for displaying the dose and
the infusion flow rate, or the like, wherein when the infusion flow
rate (mL/h) is input via the setting unit, the flow rate is
increased or decreased step by step followed by a buzzer sound for
each press of an input key. The above described object is also
achieved by a infusion device including: a setting unit to set a
dose and a infusion flow rate, or the like; and a display unit to
display the dose and the infusion flow rate, or the like, wherein
thresholds of the lengths of detected air is classified into two
predetermined stages so that either thereof can be selected. The
above described object is also achieved by a infusion device
including in a door: a setting unit to set a dose and a infusion
flow rate, or the like; and a display unit to display the dose and
the infusion flow rate, or the like, wherein setting an input in
the setting unit is prevented while the door is kept opened and/or
during the start of a infusion (during a infusion operation).
[0005] As described above, according to the present invention, a
infusion device is provided that allows a user to set infusion
conditions safely and reliably, and also the easy setup or
adjustment or selection of a necessary alarm (warning) condition
via a user interface including an operation panel. Further,
detailed organization of the present invention will become more
apparent from the following description of the best implementation
of the invention and its accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is an overall appearance perspective view of a
infusion device according to the present invention with its door
being opened;
[0007] FIG. 2 shows an operation switch panel according to the
present invention;
[0008] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a door side sensor (a
transmitting element) 31 facing a base side sensor (a receiving
element) 30;
[0009] FIG. 3B is a sectional view of a state where door 4 is
closed to hold a infusion tube 2;
[0010] FIG. 4 shows the flow of air detection according to the
present invention;
[0011] FIG. 5A shows the rear surface of the infusion device 1;
[0012] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the
infusion device 1;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the infusion device according
to the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 7 shows the flow of a subroutine for setting inputs
according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS
[0015] 1 infusion device [0016] 2 infusion tube [0017] 4 door
[0018] 6 operation indicator [0019] 8 the drip number setting
switch [0020] 9 volume to be infused/volume infused setting switch
[0021] 11 flow rate setting switch [0022] 13 check timing display
unit
BEST CONFIGURATION FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0023] Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an appearance perspective view of a state where a
peristaltic infusion device 1 as an example of a infusion device is
secured to a infusion pole 90 with its door being opened, FIG. 5A
is a rear perspective view, and FIG. 5B is a bottom perspective
view. FIG. 6 is a block diagram. In the state in FIG. 1 a flexible
infusion tube 2 (see FIG. 2) described later is set in the infusion
device. The infusion device is used with the door 4 being closed.
In this state of use, the outline dimension of a device body
excluding handle 5 provided in the upper unit and the right and
left protrusions 3a (the right one only is shown in FIG. 1) is
about 19 cm wide, about 16 cm high, and about 16 cm deep.
[0024] The infusion device 1 has securing fittings 91 on its a rear
surface, into which a securing knob 92 is screwed so as to be
secured to the infusion pole 90 as shown in FIG. 1. The infusion
device 1 can be secured at any height of the infusion pole 90 as
required for particular use. Further, the infusion device 1 has
four rubber feet 93 secured to its bottom surface so that the
infusion device 1 can also be used on a desk beside a patient after
being removed from the infusion pole 90.
[0025] Thus, the device is designed so that a user (an operator
such as a healthcare worker, for example, a doctor or a nurse)
presses each switch with his/her thumb with the remaining fingers
resting on back sides of the right and left protrusions 3a for an
easy pressing of the various switches in order to improve usability
when setting (mounting) the infusion tube 2 (see FIG. 2). The right
and left protrusions 3a (the right protrusion 3a only is shown in
FIG. 1) are integrally molded with a body base 3 that is made of
reinforced plastic or an aluminum die casting, resistant to impact
and have vertically sufficient lengths as shown. With the right and
left protrusions (projections) 3a, a body facing cover 12 of the
infusion device 1 has a wider width than the door 4, and thus even
if the infusion device 1 falls onto the floor, the body facing
cover 12 hits the floor before the door 4 hits the floor because of
the center of gravity of the infusion device 1, thereby protecting
the infusion device 1 and the door 4 from strong impact when
falling.
[0026] Two upper and lower grooves 3m used to laterally hold the
infusion tube 2 at the center of the body base 3 as shown are
integrally molded, and the user vertically sets the infusion tube 2
in the grooves 3m. A pump mechanism 100 is fixed in the middle of
the grooves by four screws 110 attachable and detachable using a
tool. The pump mechanism 100 includes ten fingers 10-n individually
driven by cam drive means included in the body base 3. Each of the
fingers 10-n is injection molded out of thermoplastic resin such as
a polyacetal resistant to chemicals. In the lower unit of the body
base 3, jaws 3k protruding to the front in the sheet surface are
integrally molded so as to surround the groove 3m, and if a lower
side surface of a below described door facing cover 12 is placed on
the jaws 3k when the door 4 including the door facing cover 12 is
closed to apply any external force, the jaws 3k receives the
external force to prevent the external force from being applied to
the door facing cover 12 and the door 4 in order to prevent
breakage. A hook 59 is secured to the right side substantially in
the middle of the body base 3, and a lock unit of a door lock lever
7 rotatably provided in the door 4 is locked to the hook 59 to
maintain the door 4 secured to the body base 3. A door seal rubber
66 made of an elastomer is provided in the door 4 at a unit facing
the most upstream side of the groove 3m, and the door seal rubber
66 is deformed so as to form a joining seal surface with a shown
shaping unit 3j of the body base 3 when the door 4 is closed,
thereby preventing a liquid drug or the like from entering the
infusion device 1.
[0027] A occlusion sensor 62 is provided below the pump mechanism
100, and holds the infusion tube 2 in front and back directions
together with a occlusion pressure plate 69 provided in the door 4
to face the occlusion sensor 62. The occlusion sensor 62 includes a
permanent magnet and a pickup sensor to detect the moving distance
of the permanent magnet in an analog manner, and is adapted to
detect the position of the permanent magnet moved according to
internal pressure changes depending on occlusion states of the
infusion tube 2. For this purpose, it is necessary that the
occlusion pressure plate 69 does not regulate internal pressure
changes of the infusion tube 2 in any directions, and thus a shown
disk is held to be freely movable by a leaf (an elastic member).
When a occlusion threshold is detected by the occlusion sensor 62,
the adjustment means (selection means) 51 (see FIG. 5B) provided at
the bottom surface of the infusion device 1 can be adjusted
(selected) (a plurality of stages) within 10 stages ranging from 30
to 170 kPa using a driver manipulated by a user or a serviceman for
maintenance according to the manufacturer or the type of infusion
tube 2 used. A base side sensor 30 that forms one side of the
air-in sensor 30a that transmits and receives ultrasound to detect
the presence of air entering the infusion tube 2 is secured between
the upper groove 3m and the pump mechanism 100 in a chamber unit 3h
formed in the body base 3 as shown. A door side sensor 31 that
forms the other side of the ultrasonic air-in sensor 30a is secured
to the door 4 as shown. With this organization, the door side
sensor 31 can fit into the chamber unit 3h of the body base 3 with
the door 4 being closed to hold the infusion tube 2 with the
sensors from the front and back directions, thereby maintaining the
infusion tube 2 immobile.
[0028] On the other hand, the pump mechanism 100 and the body base
3 are substantially colored in gray, while groove parts 94 and 95
secured to upper and lower units of the pump mechanism 100 are red
or orange, so that the user sets the infusion tube 2 in the grooves
to correctly hold the infusion tube 2 in a predetermined position
of the pump mechanism 100. In FIG. 1, the door 4 is shown opened
and substantially flush with a left side surface of the body base
3. The door 4 is opened to a maximum angle of approximately 105
degrees with respect to the surface of the body base 3, and stopped
at this position. The middle opening or closing positions for the
door 4 are rotatably supported by hinges 65 so as to prevent
rattling. The hinges 65 include unshown springs.
[0029] The body facing cover 12 specially injection molded of
thermoplastic synthetic resin is provided so as to prevent surface
sink or a residue of resin flow, and is detachable so as to cover
four corners of the body base 3 in the infusion device 1. Thus, the
body facing cover 12 is detached to be easily accessible to all
check spots and parts replacement spots in the infusion device 1,
thereby facilitating assembly and also maintenance and parts
replacement. A pressure plate 70 is provided on a rear surface of
the door 4 as described later. A flexible cable 63 is provided with
part thereof being exposed as shown between the upper and lower
hinges 65 and 65 for supplying power and transmitting electric
signals so that the supply of power and the transmission of
electric signals to the door side sensor 31 can be performed
besides the operation switch panel (see FIG. 2).
[0030] FIG. 5A shows the rear surface of the infusion device 1, and
FIG. 5B shows its bottom surface. On the rear surface of the
infusion device 1 of FIG. 5A, a key lock switch 52 for disabling
the operation of the operation panel after the start of a infusion
operation, a DC connector 53, an drip sensor connector 54, a
infusion set display changeover switch 55, an external
communication unit mounted on each board (an external communication
connector) 56, an drip sensor holder 93c, a fuse holder, and an AC
power supply connector (a receptacle), or the like are arranged. In
the bottom surface of the infusion device 1 of FIG. 5B, adjustment
means (an adjustment switch) 50 that serves as both a voice guide
selection means (a voice guide selection switch) and the drip
number selection display means (the drip number selection switch)
is provided. A requested voice guide can be selected from a voice
IC chip 70, and optimum voice guidance can be performed at each
medical field. The volume of the voice guide can be set by
continuously pressing the volume to be infused setting means (a
volume to be infused setting switch) 9 while pressing the flow rate
setting means (a flow rate setting switch) 11 that also serves as
an adjustment means (setting means) so that the display on the flow
rate display unit 32 is successively changed from A-1 (volume: low)
to A-2 (volume: middle), A-3 (volume: high), and A-1 (volume: low)
for each press of the up switch 22c of the up-down switch 22. Also,
a infusion set selection panel 8 is configured that when a infusion
tube (a infusion set) 2 is not used, user can not set the drip
number for the infusion. The adjustment means 50 may be separately
provided. A clamp mounting screw 93a is also provided.
[0031] Next, FIG. 2 shows a front view of an operation switch panel
1000 provided in a front side of the infusion device 1 in the state
after the infusion tube 2 has been set (mounted) and the door 4 has
been closed. In FIG. 2, components described above are denoted by
the same numeral reference and consequently their descriptions will
be omitted. A infusion bag 300 containing a predetermined liquid
drug is hung on the infusion pole, and the most upstream side of
the infusion tube 2 is connected to the infusion bag 300. The
middle unit of the infusion tube 2 is set in the infusion device 1
as shown, while an intravenous needle 304 is connected via a roller
clamp 303 further downstream of the infusion tube 2, and the
intravenous needle 304 is punctured into the vein of a patient to
infuse the liquid drug at a predetermined rate. The roller clamp
303 acts in the same manner as a clamp mechanism 500 (see FIG. 1)
in the infusion device 1, but an operation (open/close operations)
of the roller clamp 303 is sometimes forgotten, which forces the
user to operate the roller clamp 303 through the voice guide. As
described above, the infusion bag 300 is hung on an unshown
infusion pole (a infusion stand) to allow high accuracy infusion to
a patient lying on a bed.
[0032] The middle unit of the infusion tube 2 is temporarily set as
shown, and then the door 4 is closed and locked through lever 7 to
start a infusion. The display units of the drip number, a volume to
be infused (a dose to be infused)/volume infused, and a flow rate
(a infusion flow rate) display numeral by a so-called seven
segments numerical. The operation switch panel 1000 is provided in
the door 4. The display units 8, 23 and 32 for displaying the drip
number, the volume to be infused/volume infused, and the flow rate
are laid out in the operation switch panel 1000 so as to be easily
viewable. The display units are color-coded so that the display
unit 32 of the flow rate is an orange LED, the display unit 23 of
the volume to be infused/volume infused is a green LED, and the
display unit 32 of the flow rate is displayed to be larger than the
display unit 23 of the volume to be infused/volume infused. The key
panel on which the operation switches are placed and the display
units 8, 23 and 32 of the drip number, the volume to be
infused/volume infused, and the flow rate are made of a transparent
resin film having a back surface on which predetermined items are
printed and embossed to protrude forward in a circular shape, and
bonded to cover unshown included switch keys, thereby preventing
the liquid drug or the like from entering the switch keys.
[0033] The above described switch keys are mounted on a common
board, and LEDs of the display units 8, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, and
32 emit light so that the displays are easily viewable even when it
is dark. The switch keys, the display units 8, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27,
28, and 32, and lamps are connected to a below described control
unit via the flexible cable 63, and power is supplied. Electric
signals of control signals and drive signals are transmitted from
the cable to allow the supply of power and the transmission of the
electric signals of the control signals and the drive signals to
perform without trouble the opening and closing operations of the
door 4 including the door facing cover 12. A board provided in the
door 4 handles so-called TTL level electric signals only.
[0034] Next, the function of each switch will be described. A power
switch 15 provided in a lower left corner in the drawing is used
for turning on/off a main power supply. It turns on the power
supply if being pressed for a predetermined amount of seconds
(about 2 seconds) and it turns off the power supply if being
pressed again for a predetermined amount of seconds (about 3
seconds or more), which prevents the power supply from being
accidentally turned on/off. A battery lamp 16 on the right of the
power switch 15 includes a green light emitting diode to indicate
the three stages as shown. It also lights up when an AC power
supply or a dedicated DC power supply is connected irrespective of
the on/off state of the power supply to indicate that a battery is
being charged. Further, the battery lamp 16 indicates the amount of
charge during the charging and the remaining amount during use of
the built-in battery with the LED. On the left of the battery lamp
16, an AC/DC lamp 17 lights up only when a commercial power supply
or a DC power supply is used and the power supply is on. A stop and
silence switch 18 that is pressed during the infusion to cause a
built-in buzzer to sound in order to stop the infusion is provided
above the AC/DC lamp 17. The stop and silence switch 18 can be
pressed while the warning sound (the buzzer) is emitted to silence
the sound. Also, when in a state of being ready for the infusion
the stop and silence switch 18 is continuously pressed for
predetermined seconds (about 2 seconds), a mode is changed to
standby mode. By changing to standby mode, an alarm state for a
caution against forgetting to start is released. This can prevent
the alarm (the buzzer) from being generated during the time between
completion of the puncture of a needle into a patient and the start
of the infusion, for example, in an operating room. In a condition
where the alarm state is not released, the alarm (the buzzer sound)
is generated after predetermined minutes (about 20 minutes) to urge
the user to start the infusion. On the left of the stop and silence
switch 18, a stop display lamp 21 having a diode that emits an
orange light blinking during a stop is provided in association with
the stop and silence switch 18 so as to be surrounded by the same
frame. On the right of the stop and silence switch 18, a start
switch 19 is provided. The start switch 19 is pressed to cause a
built-in buzzer to sound to start the infusion. The green light
emitting diode of the start display lamp 20 blinks to indicate that
the operation is being performed. An operation indicator 6 (see
FIG. 1) provided to protrude from an upper part of the door 4 also
has a green light emitting diode blinking at intervals according to
the dose (the infusion rate) so that the operation state is visible
from a distant position. On the left of the stop and silence switch
18, a fast-forward switch 36 is provided, and when pressed it
allows the liquid to be delivered at a rate higher than the set
rate (mL/h) during the pressing.
[0035] A display unit 1100 is provided above the switches, six
up-down switches 22, all are provided as shown, so as to correspond
to a 3-digit display unit of the flow rate display unit (a infusion
flow rate display unit) 32. Up and down buttons 22a, 22b, and 22c
of the up-down switch 22 corresponding to the number of digits
(hundreds, tens, ones) are pressed in a stop state to allow setting
the input of the flow rate (the infusion flow rate) (mL/h) and the
volume to be infused (the dose to be infused) (mL) within a range
of 1.0 to 500 mL/h and 1 to 9999 mL, respectively. On the left of
the flow rate display unit 32, the flow rate setting means (the
flow rate setting switch) 11 that is pressed to enter the setting
mode is provided. In setting the flow rate (mL/h), the up and down
buttons 22a are continuously pressed to increase and decrease the
value hundreds by hundreds, and a buzzer sounds synchronized with
the increase and decrease of the value at each press. When setting
the flow rate (mL/h), first, the flow rate setting means (the flow
rate setting switch) 11 is pressed to confirm the blinking state,
then the value is input by the up-down switch 22 to confirm that
the value is a predetermined value, and the flow rate setting means
(the flow rate setting switch) 11 is pressed again to set the
input. Above the flow rate display unit 32, an volume infused and
volume to be infused display unit 23 surrounded by a printed
separate frame is provided. A set range for the volume to be
infused varies between 1 to 9999 mL by pressing the up and down
buttons 22a, 22b, and 22c corresponding to the number of digits of
the up-down switch 22. This set range is programmed to be increased
by 1 mL increments or set freely, and adapted to store the set
value in a storing unit 71 (see FIG. 6). On the left of the volume
infused and volume to be infused display unit 23, the volume to be
infused setting switch 9 is provided. This switch is pressed to
confirm the set volume to be infused. The volume infused is
programmed to be displayed in 1 mL increments, thus the volume
infused display range is 0.0 to 9999 mL. For the flow rate (mL/h)
and the volume to be infused (mL) after setting the input, when the
flow rate (mL/h) is equal to or larger than the volume to be
infused (mL), an alarm (a buzzer or a voice notification) is used
to notify the user. As an example of the voice notification, a
voice such as "Confirm the set flow rate" previously stored in the
voice IC chip 70 is used to notify to the user. The display unit
1100 uses LED elements and is visible even in a dark room without
illumination. The infusion device 1 also includes a flow rate upper
limit setting function.
[0036] Above the volume infused and volume to be infused display
unit 23, infusion setting means (the drip number setting means) 8
is provided to set the drip number of infusion using a drip chamber
and confirm the setting afterwards. On its right, a completion
display unit 24 displays the characters "completed" blinking. Below
the completion display unit 24, a timing validation display unit 13
is provided to send either a notification regarding the approach of
a regular check timing or a notification regarding a regular check
by illuminating either a pictographic character of a driver from a
back surface or an LED display. When the display unit 13 is made of
LED, the display colors may be changed. For instance, the display
is orange for a predetermined period of days, i.e., a few days
before the regular check timing (date), and the display turns red
after the regular check date. Setting a time period before the
transfusion system lights up can be done at configuration. For
example, continuously pressing the volume to be infused setting
means (the volume to be infused setting switch) 9 while pressing
the flow rate setting means (the flow rate setting switch) 11
enables a user to set a time using the up switch 22b of the up-down
switch 22 so that the display on the flow rate display unit 32 is
successively changed from 0 (no setting) to 1 (month), 2 (months),
. . . 12 (months). When setting, timing validation may be
controlled by a host computer using an internal communication means
such as a LAN connection via an external communication unit 56.
[0037] Further, an occlusion display unit 26 displaying the
blinking characters "occlusion" when an occlusion in the infusion
tube 2 is detected by the occlusion sensor 62, urges a user to
disable the infusion. A door opening display unit 27 is provided to
display the blinking characters "door" when the door is not closed
incompletely with respect to the body base 3 and an open state is
detected by the door switch. An air-in display unit 28 is provided
to display the blinking characters "air-in" when the air-in sensor
30a determines that an air of a predetermined length (10 mm or 5
mm) has entered the infusion tube 2. An low battery display unit 29
is provided to display the blinking characters "battery" when the
voltage of the built-in battery is low. An abnormal flow rate
display unit 25 is provided to display an abnormal flow rate. All
previous displays are provided as alarm display units surrounded by
the same printed frame. More particularly, when the door switch 63
(see FIG. 6) determines that the door 4 is opened or incompletely
closed with respect to the body base 3 in the stop state of the
infusion operation because of an alarm or the like, any operation
of the operation switch panel is prohibited to prevent setting an
input. An input setting subroutine is shown in FIG. 7 regarding
this last case. In FIG. 7, it is first determined whether the
operation is being stopped (Step S101). When it is determined that
the operation is being stopped, it is determined whether the door 4
is opened (Step S102). (When it is determined in Step S101 that the
operation is not being stopped, that is, the operation is being
performed, the process returns to the original routine to prohibit
a setting input operation (Step S109)). When it is determined that
the door 4 is not opened (closed), it is determined whether the
flow rate setting is selected (Step S103). (When it is determined
in Step S102 that the door 4 is opened, the process returns to the
original routine to prevent the occurrence of a setting input
operation (Step S109)). When the flow rate setting is selected, a
flow rate setting change is performed (Step S108). When the flow
rate setting is not selected, it is determined if the volume to be
infused setting is selected (Step S104). When the volume to be
infused setting is selected, a volume to be infused setting change
is performed (Step S107). When the volume to be infused setting is
not selected, it is determined if the drip number setting is
selected (Step S105). When it is determined that the drip number
setting is selected, a drip number change is performed (Step S106).
When it is determined that the drip number setting is not selected,
the process returns to the original routine to prevent the
occurrence of the setting input operation (Step S109). The process
also returns to the original routine after the processing of Step
S106, Step S107, and Step S108 to prohibit a setting input
operation (Step S109). The order of the routine processing
constitutes an example and does not limit the step of the
invention.
[0038] As described above, the operation switch panel as a user
interface is designed so that the user can set and confirm the
infusion conditions safely and reliably and before starting a
infusion. A door base 4a partially shown by a broken line in the
lower left part of the drawings is made of aluminum die casting or
rigid resin, and has a key surface formed between the side surface
and the front surface.
[0039] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are perspective and sectional views of
the air-in sensor 30a. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the door
side sensor (a transmitting element) 31 facing the base side sensor
(a receiving element) 30, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the
state where the door 4 is closed to hold the infusion tube 2. The
door side sensor 31 facing the base side sensor 30 includes a pair
of transmitting elements and receiving elements. The determination
that there is an air in the infusion tube 2 is made through the
following flow (FIG. 4). First, the user selects the length (a
threshold) of air from 5 mm (mainly for children) or 10 mm (mainly
for adults) that are required to be detected. Air-in detection
sensitivity is selected by pressing the volume to be infused
setting means 9 as selection means while pressing the flow rate
setting switch 11 as air-in sensor sensitivity selection means (a
selection switch) so that a display on the display unit 32 is
successively changed from 5 to 10, to 5, and to 10 for each
pressing of the volume to be infused setting switch 9. When the
display is "5", the length threshold for the detection of air in
the infusion tube 2 is 5 mm, and when the display shows "10", the
length threshold is 10 mm. Either one of the thresholds is thus
selected (Step S1) to cause either "5" or "10" to be displayed as
the selected (set) value (Step S2). All input setting conditions
such as the flow rate and the volume to be infused are ready, and
the start switch 19 is then pressed to start the infusion (Step
S3). Air-in detection is performed during the infusion (Step S4),
and when there is an air in the infusion tube 2, the value detected
by the base side sensor (the receiving element) 30 is changed.
Thus, the value is counted (in synchronization with the RPMs of a
motor driving the fingers 10-n) to determine whether the value
exceeds the air length threshold. When the value exceeds the
threshold, it is determined that there is an air (Step S5), a
display is made on the air-in display unit 28, and an alarm (a
buzzer or a voice) is generated (Step S6) to stop (Step S7). A
dedicated selection switch may be provided rather than using
another switch as the selection switch. Thresholds of lengths of
air to be detected by the air-in detection are in a plurality of
stages such as "5", "10", "15", "20", or the like as default
values, but the user may select either of two stages of "5" and
"10" only. Thus, a safe design is provided such that the user
cannot adjust, change, or set the thresholds of the lengths of the
air to be detected by the air-in detection. The thresholds can be
changed as required by a serviceman for maintenance or the like.
The present invention has been described, but various improvements
or changes may be made without departing from the purpose of the
present invention. The explanations of the present invention are
not limited to the embodiment of the present invention but becomes
apparent from the accompanying claims.
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