Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
An infusion apparatus for infusing liquid into a patient, said infusion apparatus comprising: a housing; a pump disposed in said housing and adapted to pump liquid through a conduit; non-volatile memory means; means for presenting the patient with a plurality of questions to be answered by the patient; input means for allowing the patient to input a plurality of answers to said plurality of questions; and means for storing said answers in said non-volatile memory means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
An infusion apparatus for infusing liquid into a patient, said infusion apparatus comprising: a housing; a pump disposed in said housing and adapted to pump liquid through a conduit; non-volatile memory means; means for presenting the patient with a plurality of questions to be answered by the patient; input means for allowing the patient to input a plurality of answers to said plurality of questions; and means for storing said answers in said non-volatile memory means.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of operating an infusion pump for infusing liquid into a patient, said method comprising the steps of: (a) pumping liquid through a flexible conduit adapted to be fluidly connected to the patient; (b) presenting the patient with a question relating to the patient's physical health; (c) storing an answer to said question, input by the patient, in a non-volatile memory; and (d) repeating said steps (b) and (c) for a plurality of questions and answers.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of operating an infusion pump for infusing liquid into a patient, said method comprising the steps of: (a) pumping liquid through a flexible conduit adapted to be fluidly connected to the patient; (b) presenting the patient with a question relating to the patient's physical health; (c) storing an answer to said question, input by the patient, in a non-volatile memory; and (d) repeating said steps (b) and (c) for a plurality of questions and answers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as defined in claim 2 additionally comprising the steps of: (e) storing a plurality of question sets in a memory; (f) selecting one of said question sets based upon a parameter; and (g) retrieving said question presented to the patient during said step (b) from said question set selected during said step (f).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said step (f) comprises the step of selecting one of said question sets based upon a parameter relating to the patient.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said step (f) comprises the step of selecting one of said question sets based upon a parameter relating to a health care provider.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein said step (b) is performed before said step (a).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the infusion apparatus infuses liquid into a patient over an infusion period beginning with an initial infusion and ending with a final infusion, and additionally comprises a controller operatively coupled to said pump to cause said pump to deliver a plurality of infusions of said liquid during said infusion period beginning with said initial infusion and ending with said final infusion, each of said infusions being made at a time and a flow rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for presenting comprises programming means operatively coupled to said controller for allowing said pump to be programmed to deliver said infusions in accordance with programmed infusion data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said input means comprises a depressible run key operatively coupled to said controller which, upon being pressed, causes said infusion period to begin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for storing comprises means for storing infusion data in said non-volatile memory means to generate a historical record of said plurality of infusions beginning with said initial infusion and ending with said final infusion, said infusion data including at least said time at which each infusion was made and said flow rate at which of each infusion was made.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for storing comprises means for storing said programmed infusion data representing at least a programmed infusion mode, and means for storing a time at which said run key was pressed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 11 additionally comprising a depressible hold key operatively coupled to said controller which, upon being pressed, causes said infusion period to be interrupted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 11 additionally comprising a depressible bolus-request key, operatively coupled to said controller, for requesting that a bolus infusion be made by said pump.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 11 additionally comprising means for generating an alarm upon the detection of an alarm condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 11 additionally comprising means for detecting a malfunction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said control means is operatively coupled to said pump for allowing said pump to be operated in any one of at least three infusion modes, said control means causing said pump to deliver a plurality of infusions of said liquid, in one of said infusion modes, during said infusion period beginning said initial infusion and ending with said final infusion, each of said infusions being made at a time and a flow rate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said control means additionally comprises: means for allowing said pump to be operable in a continuous infusion mode; means for allowing said pump to be operable in a ramp infusion mode; and means for allowing said pump to be operable in a patient-controlled analgesic infusion mode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 16 additionally comprising: programming means operatively coupled to said control means for allowing said pump to be programmed to deliver said infusion in accordance deliver one of said infusion modes; and lockout means for specifying one of said plurality of said infusion modes as a lockout mode which cannot be programmed via said programming means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said initial infusion comprises a keep-vein-open infusion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
An infusion apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said final infusion comprises a keep-vein-open infusion.