Syringe pump, and related method and system
A method for discharging fluid from a syringe and for mitigating occlusion conditions includes actuating the plunger of a syringe into a barrel. The method monitors fluid pressure within the barrel of the syringe and determines that an occlusion exists when the fluid pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold. The method actuates the plunger out of the barrel by a predetermined amount in response to the detected occlusion and actuates the plunger of the syringe into the barrel until a measured fluid pressure within the barrel of the syringe exceeds another predetermined threshold.
1. A syringe pump for administering an agent to a patient, the syringe pump comprising:
a housing;
a lead screw;
a linear cam;
a half-nut assembly having first and second half-nut arms each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of the first and second half-nut arms are configured to engage with the lead screw, the first and second half-nut arms are pivotally coupled together, the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms are configured to engage with the linear cam such that actuation of the linear cam toward the half-nut assembly causes the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms to pivotally approach each other, and the first ends of the first and second half-nut arms each includes threads configured to engage the lead screw when the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms approach each other caused by actuation of the linear cam;
a plunger head assembly coupled to said half-nut assembly and operative to drive a plunger of a syringe into a barrel of said syringe;
a first plunger flange clamp jaw; and
a second plunger flange clamp jaw,
wherein the first and second plunger flange clamp jaws are configured to be actuated from a first position to a second position.
2. The syringe pump of claim 1 , wherein the plunger head assembly further comprises a pressure sensor for monitoring a pressure of the agent being dispensed from the syringe.
3. The syringe pump of claim 2 , wherein a plunger flange of the syringe is held against the pressure sensor.
4. The syringe pump of claim 1 , wherein the syringe pump further comprises a barrel flange clip, said barrel flange clip configured to retain a barrel flange of the syringe.
5. The syringe pump of claim 4 , wherein the barrel flange clip comprises an optical sensor and a light source configured to detect a presence of the barrel flange, said light source obscured in the presence of said barrel flange.
6. A syringe pump for administering an agent to a patient wherein the syringe pump comprising:
a housing;
a lead screw;
a linear cam;
a half-nut assembly having first and second half-nuts arms each having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of the first and second half-nut arms are configured to engage with the lead screw, the first and second half-nut arms are pivotally coupled together, the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms are configured to engage with the linear cam such that actuation of the linear cam toward the half-nut assembly causes the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms to pivotally approach each other, and the first ends of the first and second half-nut arms each includes threads configured to engage the lead screw when the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms approach each other caused by actuation of the linear cam;
a plunger head assembly coupled to said half-nut assembly and operative to drive a plunger of a syringe into a barrel of said syringe.
7. The syringe pump of claim 6 , wherein the plunger head assembly further comprises a pressure sensor for monitoring a pressure of the agent being dispensed from the syringe.
8. The syringe pump of claim 7 , wherein a plunger flange of the syringe is held against the pressure sensor by at least one jaw.
9. The syringe pump according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger head assembly includes a user actuator operatively coupled to the linear cam to actuate the linear cam toward and away from the half-nut assembly.
10. The syringe pump according to claim 1 , further comprising a spacer coupled to one of the first and second half-nut arms.
11. The syringe pump according to claim 1 , further comprising a pivot pin configured to provide the pivotal coupling between the first and second half-nut arms.
12. The syringe pump according to claim 1 , wherein the linear cam includes two ramping surfaces configured to engaged with second ends of the first and second half-nut arms.
13. The syringe pump according to claim 1 , further comprising a bias member configured to bias the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms away from each other.
14. The syringe pump according to claim 13 , wherein the bias member is a spring.
15. The syringe pump according to claim 6 , wherein the plunger head assembly includes a user actuator operatively coupled to the linear cam to actuate the linear cam toward and away from the half-nut assembly.
16. The syringe pump according to claim 6 , further comprising a spacer coupled to one of the first and second half-nut arms.
17. The syringe pump according to claim 6 , further comprising a pivot pin configured to provide the pivotal coupling between the first and second half-nut arms.
18. The syringe pump according to claim 6 , wherein the linear cam includes two ramping surfaces configured to engaged with second ends of the first and second half-nut arms.
19. The syringe pump according to claim 6 , further comprising a bias member configured to bias the second ends of the first and second half-nut arms away from each other.
20. The syringe pump according to claim 19 , wherein the bias member is a spring.