Portable infusion management apparatus and method

摘要

A portable infusion apparatus and method are provided for controlling the delivery of medicinal fluid to a patient. A fluid delivery system receives control input to control a setting of a variable fluid flow resistor. The variable fluid flow resistor resists passage of fluid through a fluid pathway between a fluid source and a recipient. The fluid delivery system; produces a control signal indicative of the setting of the variable fluid flow resistor; derives a fluid flow rate value from the control signal; and applies pressure to the fluid source to deliver the fluid from the fluid source to the recipient through the variable fluid flow resistor at a rate as specified by the derived fluid flow rate value.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving control input inputted to a fluid delivery system, the control input controlling a position setting of a variable fluid flow resistor, the variable fluid flow resistor resisting passage of fluid through a fluid pathway between a fluid source and a recipient; producing a control signal indicative of the position setting of the variable fluid flow resistor; deriving a fluid flow rate value from the control signal; applying pressure to the fluid source to deliver the fluid from the fluid source to the recipient through the variable fluid flow resistor at a rate as specified by the derived fluid flow rate value; and wherein producing the control signal includes: physically detecting the position setting of the variable fluid flow resistor using a position sensor coupled to the variable fluid flow resistor, the position sensor physically detecting a degree to which the variable fluid flow resistor is open, the position sensor producing the control signal.