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(11) | EP 0 992 230 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Medical pumping apparatus and related methods |
| (57) A medical pumping system (10) for use with a therapeutic patient treatment system
generally comprises a reservoir (12) for holding a compressed fluid, with a fluid
outlet (13,14) and a valve (15,16) for controlling flow of fluid from the reservoir
through the outlet; a compressor (11) for supplying pressurised fluid to the reservoir
(12); and a controller (17) for controlling the supply of pressurised fluid to the
reservoir (12) and for controlling the flow of fluid from the reservoir through the
outlet (13,14). The controller (17) has associated therewith a sensor (25) for measuring
the internal pressure of the reservoir, and is adapted to provide the reservoir with
an initial quantity of fluid on an initial cycle of operation; to operate the valve
(15,16) to release the initial quantity of fluid from the reservoir (12) through the
valve; to measure the internal pressure of the reservoir (12) while the valve (15,16)
is operated; and to provide the reservoir with an additional quantity of fluid, less
than the initial quantity of fluid based upon a comparison of the internal pressure
of the reservoir (Peq), after the release of the initial quantity of fluid, with the target pressure (Ptarg). |