US Patent 8142404 Controller for pumping apparatus

A controller for operating a pumping apparatus to supply fluid to a patient through a pump set includes a processor programmed to instruct a first source of electromagnetic radiation to emit electromagnetic radiation in a direction for striking a safety interlock of the pump set. The processor activates a first electromagnetic radiation detector to detect the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first source. The processor instructs a second source of electromagnetic radiation to emit electromagnetic radiation in a direction for striking the safety interlock. The processor activates a second electromagnetic radiation detector to detect the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the second source. The processor controls the pumping apparatus to operate for pumping fluid in the pump set only when electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first source is detected by the first detector and when the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the second source is not detect by the second detector.