METHOD OF INPUTTING DATA INTO AN INFUSION PUMP

1 . A method of inputting data into an infusion pump, the method comprising:

providing a user interface, including:

a data entry system for inputting data related to a drug, a subject, a caregiver, and a protocol for infusing the drug to the subject;

a display operatively associated with the data entry system; and

a processor operatively associated with the display and the data entry system, the processor having stored therein a program for prompting a user of the infusion pump, via a screen presented on the display, for a respective data entry; and

inputting the data into the user interface using the data entry system.

2 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the data entry system is a twelve-digit keypad configured for manual entry of alpha-numeric characters.

3 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the data entry system is a machine-readable scanner.

4 . The method as defined in claim 3 wherein the machine-readable scanner is wirelessly connected to the infusion pump, and wherein the user interface further includes a receiver operatively connected thereto and configured to receive a wireless transmission of the data entry from the machine-readable scanner.

5 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein inputting is accomplished manually by:

selecting an infusion mode;

entering the subject's name, the drug name, and at least one infusion parameter;

reviewing the subject's name, the drug name, and the at least one infusion parameter; and

editing at least one of the subject's name, the drug name, or the at least one infusion parameter if, upon review thereof, at least one of the subject's name, the drug name, or the at least one infusion parameter is inaccurate.

6 . The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the subject is a new patient, and wherein prior to selecting the infusion mode, inputting the data further includes selecting a desired care area.

7 . The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the subject is a new patient, and wherein prior to selecting the infusion mode, inputting the data further includes adjusting one or more infusion pump options selected from a volume level, an air-in-line trigger, an occlusion trigger, a downstream occlusion retry, or combinations thereof.

8 . The method as defined in claim 5 , further comprising selecting a quick start mode.

9 . The method as defined in claim 5 wherein: the infusion mode is a continuous delivery based on a weight of the subject; the at least one infusion parameter includes the subject's weight, a volume of the drug to be infused, a concentration of the drug, a dosage amount, and an infusion rate; and wherein inputting the data further includes entering the subject's weight, the volume of the drug to be infused, the dosage amount, and the infusion rate.

10 . The method as defined in claim 9 wherein inputting the data further includes entering the concentration of the drug.

11 . The method as defined in claim 9 wherein inputting the data further includes:

selecting to change the infusion rate; and

entering a new dose.

12 . The method as defined in claim 9 wherein inputting the data further includes titrating the drug by entering a titration flow rate and a time limit for titrating.

13 . The method as defined in claim 9 wherein inputting the data further includes:

selecting a secondary infusion mode;

entering a new weight for the subject, a new volume of the drug to be infused, a new dosage amount, and a new infusion rate, each of the new weight, volume, dosage amount and rate corresponding to the secondary infusion mode selected.

14 . The method as defined in claim 9 wherein inputting the data further includes:

confirming that a slider for the infusion pump is not in an occluded position;

determining whether the infusion pump is primed; and

if the infusion pump is not primed, priming the infusion pump.

15 . The method as defined in claim 5 wherein: the infusion mode is a continuous delivery; the at least one infusion parameter includes a volume of the drug to be infused, a concentration of the drug, a dosage amount, and an infusion rate; and inputting the data further includes entering the volume of the drug to be infused, the dosage amount, and the infusion rate.

16 . The method as defined in claim 15 wherein inputting the data further includes entering the concentration of the drug.

17 . The method as defined in claim 15 wherein inputting the data includes:

selecting to change the infusion rate; and

entering a new infusion rate.

18 . The method as defined in claim 15 wherein inputting the data further includes:

selecting a secondary infusion mode; and

entering a new volume of the drug to be infused, a new dosage amount, and a new infusion rate, each of the new volume, new dosage amount, and new rate corresponding to the secondary infusion mode selected.

19 . The method as defined in claim 15 wherein inputting the data further includes:

confirming that a slider for the infusion pump is not in an occluded position;

determining whether the infusion pump is primed; and

if the infusion pump is not primed, priming the infusion pump.

20 . The method as defined in claim 5 wherein: the infusion mode is a multi-step intermittent delivery; the at least one infusion parameter includes a volume of a reservoir including the drug, a concentration of the drug to be infused, a dosage amount with an infusion time and an infusion rate associated therewith, and an other dosage amount with an other infusion time and an other infusion rate associated therewith; and inputting the data further includes entering the volume of the reservoir including the drug, the dosage amount with the infusion time and the infusion rate associated therewith, and the other dosage amount with the other infusion time and the other infusion rate associated therewith.

21 . The method as defined in claim 20 wherein inputting the data further includes entering the concentration of the drug.

22 . The method as defined in claim 20 wherein inputting the data further includes:

confirming that a slider for the infusion pump is not in an occluded position;

determining whether the infusion pump is primed; and

if the infusion pump is not primed, priming the infusion pump.

23 . The method as defined in claim 20 wherein inputting the data further includes:

determining whether the reservoir is empty; and

when the reservoir is empty, changing the reservoir by:

entering a new reservoir volume;

confirming that a slider of the infusion pump is not in an occluded position;

determining whether the infusion pump is primed; and

if the infusion pump is not primed, priming the infusion pump.

24 . The method as defined in claim 5 wherein: the infusion mode is a dosage-based intermittent delivery; the at least one infusion parameter includes a number of doses, a dosage amount, a duration of each dose, a delay time between each dose, a concentration of the drug to be infused, and a keep vein open (KVO) rate; and inputting the data further includes entering, into respective screens on the display, the number of doses, the dosage amount, the duration of each dose, the delay time between each dose, and the KVO rate.

25 . The method as defined in claim 24 wherein inputting the data further includes entering the concentration of the drug.

26 . The method as defined in claim 24 wherein inputting the data further includes:

confirming that a slider for the infusion pump is not in an occluded position;

determining whether the infusion pump is primed; and

when the infusion pump is not primed, priming the infusion pump.

27 . The method as defined in claim 24 wherein inputting the data further includes:

determining if a reservoir containing the drug is empty; and

when the reservoir is empty, changing the reservoir by:

entering a new reservoir volume;

confirming that a slider of the infusion pump is not in an occluded position;

determining whether the infusion pump is primed; and

if the infusion pump is not primed, priming the infusion pump.

28 . The method as defined in claim 5 wherein: the infusion mode is a patient-controlled analgesia delivery; the at least one infusion parameter includes a volume of a reservoir containing the drug, a concentration of the drug to be infused, a basal flow rate, a bolus dose, and a loading dose; and inputting the data further includes:

entering the reservoir volume and the basal flow rate; and

determining whether at least one of the bolus dose and the loading dose will be used.

29 . The method as defined in claim 28 wherein when the bolus dose is used, inputting the data further includes:

entering the bolus dose and a lock-out time;

determining whether the number of doses are limited based on time; and

when the number of doses are limited based on time, entering a maximum number of doses per time.

30 . The method as defined in claim 28 wherein when the loading dose is used, inputting the data further includes entering the loading dose.

31 . The method as defined in claim 28 wherein inputting the data further includes:

confirming that a slider for the infusion pump is not in an occluded position;

determining whether the infusion pump is primed; and

if the infusion pump is not primed, priming the infusion pump.

32 . The method as defined in claim 28 wherein inputting the data further includes changing the basal flow rate by:

entering a new basal flow rate;

determining whether a new dose is needed; and

when a new dose is needed, entering the new dose and a new lock-out time.

33 . The method as defined in claim 32 wherein inputting the data further includes:

determining whether the new dose is limited based on time; and

when the new dose is limited based on time, entering a new maximum dose per time.

34 . The method as defined in claim 28 wherein inputting the data further includes:

determining whether the reservoir is empty; and

when the reservoir is empty, changing the reservoir by:

entering a new reservoir volume;

confirming that a slider of the infusion pump is not in an occluded position;

determining whether the infusion pump is primed; and

when the infusion pump is not primed, priming the infusion pump.

35 . The method as defined in claim 5 wherein: the infusion mode is a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) delivery; the at least one infusion parameter includes a volume of the drug to be infused, a concentration of the drug to be infused, a ramp down time, a total infusion time, a dose; and inputting the data further includes:

entering the volume of the drug to be infused and the ramp down time; and

selecting the infusion mode to be accomplished by one of a rate of infusing the drug or by a time for infusing the drug.

36 . The method as defined in claim 35 wherein when the infusion mode is accomplished by the rate of infusing the drug, inputting the data further includes entering the concentration of the drug and the dose.

37 . The method as defined in claim 35 wherein when the infusion mode is accomplished by the time of infusing the drug, inputting the data further includes entering a total time for infusing the drug.

38 . The method as defined in claim 35 wherein inputting the data further includes ramping down a flow rate of the drug by entering the ramp down time.

39 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the entry system is a machine-readable scanner, and wherein inputting is accomplished by:

scanning, via the machine-readable scanner, a machine-readable label for the subject, the machine-readable label including data related to the subject; and

scanning a machine-readable label for a container containing the drug, the machine-readable label for the container including data related to the drug and to the protocol for infusing the drug.

40 . The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the infusion mode is identified with a color presented on the screen of the display.

41 . The method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising locking at least one of the screens on the display by:

selecting a screen-lock option; and

entering a screen-lock password.

42 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein inputting the data further includes:

selecting a delayed infusion option;

selecting to edit a delay time according to an infusion start time;

entering the infusion start time and a current time into respective screens of the display; and

confirming at least one of the infusion parameters.

43 . The method as defined in claim 1 wherein inputting the data further includes:

selecting a multi-day infusion option; and

entering a number of days for infusion.

44 . The method as defined in claim 43 wherein inputting the data further includes:

selecting to delay infusing the drug;

selecting to edit the delay time by a start time of infusion; and

entering the start time of infusion and a current time.

45 . The method as defined in claim 43 wherein inputting the data further includes:

selecting to delay infusing the drug;

selecting to edit a delay time by a duration of the infusion; and

entering the delay time for infusing the drug.

46 . The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the infusion mode is an epidural mode, and wherein inputting the data includes selecting one of a continuous delivery, a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) delivery, or an intermittent delivery.