Method and system for controlled infusion of therapeutic substances

1. A method for infusing an infusate into the body of a human or animal subject using an infusion profile having a number of infusion steps, said method comprising:

A) assigning i) total infusate volume; ii) total number of infusion steps; iii) time duration per infusion step, iv) maximum infusion rate, v) initial infusion rate, vi) incremental increase in infusion rate and vii) ramp rate;

B) calculating a first infusion step having i) a ramping segment wherein the infusion rate increases at the assigned ramp rate from zero to the assigned initial infusion rate and ii) a terminal segment;

C) performing the first infusion step, wherein the infusion continues at approximately the assigned initial infusion rate until the assigned time duration has been reached;

D) calculating a volume of infusate delivered during the preceding infusion step;

E) calculating the remaining volume of infusate to be infused to deliver the assigned total infusate volume;

F) calculating an additional infusion step based on the incremental increase in infusion rate, remaining volume of infusate to be infused and the volume of infusate delivered during the preceding infusion step, the additional infusion step having i) a ramping segment wherein the infusion rate increases at the assigned ramp rate from the infusion rate of the terminal portion of the preceding infusion step to a new infusion rate that is equal to the infusion rate of the terminal portion of the preceding infusion step plus the incremental increase in infusion rate, wherein the new infusion rate does not exceed the assigned maximum infusion rate and ii) a terminal segment;

G) performing the additional infusion step, wherein the infusion continues at approximately said new infusion rate until the assigned time duration has been reached; and

H) repeating Steps D through G until the assigned total infusate volume has been delivered.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of: terminating the infusion when the assigned total infusate volume has been delivered.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the assigned total infusate volume is reached during an infusion step before the assigned time duration for that infusion step has been reached and wherein the infusion is terminated when the assigned total infusate volume is reached although the assigned time duration for that infusion step has not been reached.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the assigned maximum infusion rate is reached and wherein the method further comprises: continuing the infusion at the assigned maximum infusion rate until the assigned total infusate volume has been delivered.

5. A method according to claim 2 wherein the infusate contains immune globulin.

6. A method according to claim 2 wherein the infusate contains Infliximab.

7. A method according to claim 2 wherein the infusion is delivered by an infusion pump system comprising a controller and a pump and wherein parameters assigned in Step A are input to the controller by an operator.

8. A method according to claim 2 wherein the infusion is delivered by an infusion pump system comprising a controller and a pump and wherein parameters assigned in Step A are input to the controller by a reader device that reads those parameters from a source.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the source comprises a label or tag attached to or associated with a vessel that contains the infusate.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein the source comprises a label or tag attached to or associated with the subject to whom the infusion is administered.

11. A method according to claim 8 wherein the source comprises a bar code.

12. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the subject during each of Steps B through E for an adverse reaction to the infusate and wherein if the subject has an adverse reaction, a controller of an infusion system takes at least one remedial action and wherein if the subject does not have an adverse reaction, the controller continues the profile or performs a subsequent infusion step.

13. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the subject remotely with a remote monitoring and control system.

14. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the subject remotely by posing a series of specific questions to which the subject responds or by observing physiological variables of the subject.