Parenteral administration system with monitoring of fluid pressure

Claim 2

Pressure detection apparatus for use in a parenteral administration system of a type that cyclicly pumps a fluid through a feeding tube to a patient, each pumping cycle having a period of reduced fluid flow, the apparatus comprising:

Claim 3

pressure transducer means for measuring the pressure of the fluid being pumped through the feeding tube and for producing a corresponding pressure signal; comparator means for comparing the pressure signal to a prescribed threshold only during the periods of reduced fluid flow in the successive pumping cycles; and alarm means for producing an alarm whenever the comparator means determines that the pressure signal exceeds the threshold.

Claim 4

pressure transducer means for measuring the pressure of the fluid being pumped through the feeding tube and for producing a corresponding pressure signal; comparator means for comparing the pressure signal to a prescribed threshold only during the periods of reduced fluid flow in the successive pumping cycles; and alarm means for producing an alarm whenever the comparator means determines that the pressure signal exceeds the threshold.

Claim 5

Pressure detection apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the comparator means compares the pressure signal to the threshold only after pressure transients caused by the cyclic nature of the pumping are substantially reduced in magnitude.

Claim 6

Pressure detection apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the comparator means compares the pressure signal to the threshold at a prescribed time in the period of reduced fluid flow in each of the successive pumping cycles.

Claim 7

Pressure detection apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the pressure transducer means produces the pressure signal continuously during each pumping cycle.

Claim 8

Pressure detection apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the comparator means compares the pressure signal to a second prescribed threshold at times other than the successive periods of reduced fluid flow.

Claim 9

Pressure detection apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the second threshold is greater than, and a multiple of, the first threshold.

Claim 10

Pressure detection apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the prescribed threshold used by the comparator means is selectively variable.

Claim 11

A parenteral administration system comprising: peristaltic pump means for cyclicly pumping a fluid through a feeding tube to a patient, each pumping cycle having a period of prescribed duration in which fluid flow is substantially reduced; pressure transducer means for measuring the pressure of the fluid being pumped through the feeding tube and for producing a corresponding pressure signal; comparator means for comparing the pressure signal to a prescribed threshold only during the periods of reduced fluid flow of the successive pumping cycles; and alarm means for producing an alarm whenever the comparator means determines that the pressure signal exceeds the threshold.

Claim 12

A parenteral administration system comprising: peristaltic pump means for cyclicly pumping a fluid through a feeding tube to a patient, each pumping cycle having a period of prescribed duration in which fluid flow is substantially reduced; pressure transducer means for measuring the pressure of the fluid being pumped through the feeding tube and for producing a corresponding pressure signal; comparator means for comparing the pressure signal to a prescribed threshold only during the periods of reduced fluid flow of the successive pumping cycles; and alarm means for producing an alarm whenever the comparator means determines that the pressure signal exceeds the threshold.

Claim 13

A parenteral administration system as defined in claim 8, wherein the comparator means compares the pressure signal to the threshold only at a prescribed time in the period of reduced fluid flow in each of the successive pumping cycles.

Claim 14

.10. A parenteral administration system as defined in claim 8, wherein: the pressure transducer means produces the pressure signal continuously during each pumping cycle; and the comparator compares the pressure signal to a second prescribed threshold at times other than the successive periods of substantially reduced fluid flow.

Claim 15

Pressure detection apparatus for use in a parenteral administration system of a type that pumps a fluid through a feeding tube to a patient at a flow rate that varies in a cyclic fashion, the apparatus comprising: pressure transducer means for measuring the pressure of the fluid being pumped through the feeding tube and for producing a corresponding pressure signal; comparator means for comparing the pressure signal to a prescribed threshold that varies in accordance with pumping cycle; and alarm means for producing an alarm whenever the comparator means determines that the pressure signal exceeds the threshold.

Claim 16

Pressure detection apparatus for use in a parenteral administration system of a type that pumps a fluid through a feeding tube to a patient at a flow rate that varies in a cyclic fashion, the apparatus comprising: pressure transducer means for measuring the pressure of the fluid being pumped through the feeding tube and for producing a corresponding pressure signal; comparator means for comparing the pressure signal to a prescribed threshold that varies in accordance with pumping cycle; and alarm means for producing an alarm whenever the comparator means determines that the pressure signal exceeds the threshold.

Claim 17

Pressure detection apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein: each pumping cycle includes a period of substantially reduced fluid flow; and the prescribed threshold is a first level at a prescribed time in each period of reduced fluid flow and a second, higher level at all other times.

Claim 18

A parenteral administration system comprising: peristaltic pump means for cyclicly pumping a fluid through a feeding tube to a patient, each pumping cycle having a period of prescribed duration in which fluid flow is substantially reduced; pressure transducer means for continuously measuring the pressure of the fluid being pumped through the feeding tube and for producing a corresponding pressure signal; comparator means for comparing the pressure signal to a first prescribed threshold at a prescribed time in each of the successive periods of reduced fluid flow and for comparing the pressure signal to a second prescribed threshold at other times, the second threshold being higher than the first threshold; and alarm means for producing an alarm whenever the comparator means determines that the pressure signal exceeds either of the two thresholds.

Claim 19

A parenteral administration system comprising: peristaltic pump means for cyclicly pumping a fluid through a feeding tube to a patient, each pumping cycle having a period of prescribed duration in which fluid flow is substantially reduced; pressure transducer means for continuously measuring the pressure of the fluid being pumped through the feeding tube and for producing a corresponding pressure signal; comparator means for comparing the pressure signal to a first prescribed threshold at a prescribed time in each of the successive periods of reduced fluid flow and for comparing the pressure signal to a second prescribed threshold at other times, the second threshold being higher than the first threshold; and alarm means for producing an alarm whenever the comparator means determines that the pressure signal exceeds either of the two thresholds.

Claim 22

A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the step of comparing occurs only after transients caused by the cyclic nature of the pumping are substantially reduced in magnitude.

Claim 23

A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the step of comparing occurs at a prescribed time in the period of reduced fluid flow in each of the successive pumping cycles.

Claim 24

A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the step of measuring occurs continuously during each pumping cycle.

Claim 25

A method as defined in claim 17, and further including a step of comparing the pressure signal to a second prescribed threshold at times other than the successive periods of reduced fluid flow.

Claim 26

A method as defined in claim 14, and further including a step of selecting the threshold used in the step of comparing.

Claim 29

A method as defined in claim 20, wherein: each pumping cycle includes a period of substantially reduced fluid flow; and the prescribed threshold used in the step of comparing is a first level at a prescribed time in each period of reduced fluid flow and a second, higher level at all other times.