Cassette with infusion set containing anti-freeflow ball valve for peristaltic infusion pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016346464-A1
Application number	US-201615235928-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 12, 2016
Priority date	Jul 13, 2009
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Flow control devices and methods using the flow control devices are provided. In a general embodiment, a cassette includes a housing having a constrictor, a tube attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor, and a ball positioned inside the tube. The constrictor can be constructed and arranged to prevent the ball from moving through the tube at the location proximate the constrictor. The ball can prevent fluid flow in one position and be dislodged to allow fluid flow when the cassette is positioned inside a pumping device. As a result, the cassette is designed to prevent free flow of fluid when an enteral feeding tube set is not installed in a pumping device.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1 . A cassette for being connected to a pumping device, the cassette comprising:
a housing comprising a constrictor; a flexible tube attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor such that an inner diameter (ID) of the flexible tube is reduced; a ball positioned inside the flexible tube at an upstream side of the constrictor, the ball being sized such that the ball is larger than the reduced inner diameter (ID) of the flexible tube at the constrictor; and a dislodging mechanism configured to dislodge the ball in a direction along a main extension direction of the flexible tube.

2 . The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the constrictor is so constructed and arranged to prevent the ball from moving through the tube at a location proximate the constrictor.

3 . The cassette of claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a first end attached to an inlet port and a second end attached to an outlet port.

4 . The cassette of claim 1 , wherein an inlet port is sized to prevent the ball from entering the inlet port.

5 . A method of controlling fluid flow in a flexible tube, the method comprising:
providing a cassette for being connected to a pumping device, wherein the cassette comprises a housing having a constrictor, the flexible tube attached to the housing and positioned through the constrictor such that an inner diameter (ID) of the flexible tube is reduced, and a ball positioned inside the flexible tube; occluding fluid flow through the flexible tube by positioning the ball within the flexible tube at an upstream side of the constrictor; and passing fluid through the flexible tube by dislodging the ball within the flexible tube in a direction along a main extension direction of the flexible tube.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the ball is dislodged when the cassette is positioned inside the pumping device.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein a dislodging mechanism is attached to the cassette and is constructed and arranged to dislodge the ball when the cassette is positioned inside the pumping device.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• West David Woodruff
• Higgins James Allen
• Hariharesan Seralaathan
• Halbert Alan P

Classifications

• A61M5/14212 Primary

  Pumping with an aspiration and an expulsion action · CPC title

• A61M39/283

  Screw clamps · CPC title

• F16K7/06

  by means of a screw-spindle, cam, or other mechanical means {(F16K7/045 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A61M2205/128

  with incorporated valves · CPC title

• A61M39/281 Primary

  Automatic tube cut-off devices, e.g. squeezing tube on detection of air · CPC title