Infusion pump system for use in mri suites

Abstract

A tubing set includes a length of tubing having at least a section thereof that is fabricated to function with an infusion pump. The tubing set further preferably includes a first valve that is removably connected to the length of tubing on a first end thereof. The first valve is preferably in a closed state when disconnected from the length of tubing. The tubing set also preferably includes a second valve on a second end thereof. The second valve is preferably in a closed state until connected to another fluid path component. The tubing set is preferably suitable for use in an MR environment. A method of replacing at least a first infusion pump in connection with a patient with at least a second infusion pump includes the steps: closing a length of patient tubing connected to a patient to prevent backflow of blood therethrough, the patient tubing being in fluid communication at a first end thereof with a length of administration tubing, the administration tubing being in operative connection with the first infusion pump and being in fluid connection with a source of fluid, the patient tubing being in fluid connection with a patient catheter at a second end thereof; disconnecting the patient tubing from the administration tubing; connecting an intermediate length of tubing to the administration tubing, the intermediate tubing including at least a section thereof that is fabricated to function with the second infusion pump; placing the second infusion pump in operative connection with the intermediate tubing; removing the first infusion pump from operative connection with the administration tubing; and connecting the intermediate tubing to the patient tubing.

1 - 30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . An infusion pump system suitable for use within a magnetic resonance (MR) environment for replacing a non-MR compatible infusion pump, the non-MR compatible infusion pump being in operative connection with a first tubing between two ports thereof, the first tubing being in fluid communication with a source of injection fluid and with a patient, the infusion pump system comprising: 
 (a) an MR-compatible infusion pump; and    (b) an intermediate tubing having one end connectible to a first port of the first tubing, an other end connectible to a second port of the first tubing, and a portion therebetween operable to function with the MR-compatible infusion pump such that the intermediate tubing is enabled to act as a fluid path between the first and second ports of the first tubing when the non-MR compatible infusion pump is removed therefrom thus enabling communication of the injection fluid from the source thereof to the patient in the MR environment.    
   
   
       32 . The infusion pump system of  claim 31  wherein the second port of the first tubing is part of the source of injection fluid.  
   
   
       33 . The infusion pump system of  claim 31  wherein each of the first and second ports of the first tubing is part of a Y-connector.  
   
   
       34 . The infusion pump system of  claim 31  wherein the first tubing includes a key to enable operation of the non-MR compatible infusion pump.  
   
   
       35 . The infusion pump system of  claim 31  wherein the intermediate tubing includes a key to enable operation of the MR-compatible infusion pump.  
   
   
       36 . An infusion pump system suitable for use within a magnetic resonance (MR) environment for replacing a non-MR compatible infusion pump, the non-MR compatible infusion pump being in operative connection with a first tubing between two ports thereof, the first tubing being in fluid communication with a source of injection fluid and with a patient, the infusion pump system comprising: 
 (a) an MR-compatible infusion pump; and    (b) an intermediate tubing having one end connectible to a first port of the first tubing, an other end connectible to a second port of the first tubing, and a portion therebetween operable to function with the MR-compatible infusion pump such that the intermediate tubing is enabled to act as a fluid path between the first and second ports of the first tubing, and thus enabling communication of the injection fluid from the source thereof to the patient, when the non-MR compatible infusion pump is removed from the first tubing due to unsuitability for the MR environment.    
   
   
       37 . The infusion pump system of  claim 36  wherein the second port of the first tubing is part of the source of injection fluid.  
   
   
       38 . The infusion pump system of  claim 36  wherein each of the first and second ports of the first tubing is part of a Y-connector.  
   
   
       39 . The infusion pump system of  claim 36  wherein the first tubing includes a key to enable operation of the non-MR compatible infusion pump.  
   
   
       40 . The infusion pump system of  claim 36  wherein the intermediate tubing includes a key to enable operation of the MR-compatible infusion pump.  
   
   
       41 . An infusion pump system suitable for use within a magnetic resonance (MR) environment for replacing a non-MR compatible infusion pump, the non-MR compatible infusion pump being in operative connection with a first tubing set that is connected between a source of fluid and an expansion tubing set attached to the patient so that the source of fluid is in fluid communication with the patient, the infusion pump system comprising: 
 (a) an MR-compatible infusion pump; and    (b) an intermediate tubing set for interconnection between the first and the expansion tubing sets upon disconnection of the first tubing set from the expansion tubing set, the intermediate tubing set having a portion thereof operable to function with the MR-compatible infusion pump such that, upon priming thereof and removal of the non-MR compatible from the first tubing set, the MR compatible infusion pump is enabled to pump the fluid from the source thereof to the patient via the first, the intermediate and the expansion tubing sets.    
   
   
       42 . The infusion pump system of  claim 41  wherein the expansion tubing set includes an expansion tube and a catheter for insertion into the patient.  
   
   
       43 . The infusion pump system of  claim 41  wherein the first tubing set includes a key to enable operation of the non-MR compatible infusion pump.  
   
   
       44 . The infusion pump system of  claim 41  wherein the intermediate tubing set includes a key to enable operation of the MR-compatible infusion pump.