System for controlling flow through a line during intravenous drug delivery

Abstract

A system for controlling flow through a line during intravenous drug delivery. The system is capable of use in conjunction with a bedside-pharmacy system for the preparation and delivery of intravenous drugs. The system includes a disposable cassette with first and second valve chambers and a control unit into which the cassette is capable of being received. The control unit has a cam and first and second actuators. The bedside-pharmacy system may include a liquid inlet for connection to a liquid supply, vial receptacles, and a liquid outlet for providing the intravenous drug in mixed, liquid form to the patient. That system may include a chamber having a variable volume, and a valve mechanism, which may be actuated to control flow between the liquid outlet, the variable-volume chamber, the vial receptacles and the liquid inlet. That system induces change in the volume of the variable-volume chamber and actuates the valve mechanism, so as to introduce liquid from the liquid inlet into the vials and reconstitute or dilute the drugs and so as to deliver the drugs to the patient.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for controlling flow through an intravenous line, the system comprising: 
 a disposable cassette having: 
 a first valve chamber defined by a first rigid wall and a first flexible membrane, and  
 a second valve chamber defined by a second rigid wall and a second flexible membrane; and  
   a control unit having 
 a cam,  
 a first actuator disposed adjacent the first flexible membrane so that movement of the first actuator causes a change in pressure on the first flexible membrane, and  
 a second actuator disposed adjacent the second flexible membrane so that movement of the second actuator causes a change in pressure on the second flexible membrane,  
   wherein the cam and actuators are disposed with respect to each other such that, as the cam is rotated, the actuators are moved.    
     
     
         2 . The system of    claim 1    wherein the cam is shaped so that, at any time, at least one actuator is urging the corresponding flexible membrane into a closed position.  
     
     
         3 . The system of    claim 2    wherein the cassette further includes a pressure-conduction chamber located in a fluid passageway between the first and second valve chambers.