Sensing a status of an infuser based on sensing motor control and power input

• US 10,398,837 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2017
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Pharma. Services IL, Ltd. (West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: West Pharma. Services IL, Ltd. (West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cabiri, Oz, Filman, Reuven Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woodward, Nathaniel T
• Application Number:
  US15/855,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20180117248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 73168
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence

Abstract

A status of a battery operated infuser may be detected by measuring a controlled input parameter. The measurement may be used to determine a magnitude of the input parameter and a parameter of the control. For example, control of power input to a motor may be by pulse density modulation. An integral of current over time may serve as a measure of current magnitude and pulse density. The result of the integral may be used to determine the status of the injector. The status may include normal functions for example start of pumping and/or malfunctions such as occlusion or drive disengagement.

Claims

1. A drug infusion device comprising:

a DC power source;

an actuator;

a performance sensor operationally coupled to an output of said actuator;

a controller which adjusts a current input to said actuator according to an output of said performance sensor;

an energy reservoir operationally coupled to the DC power source and to the controller;

a voltage sensor operationally coupled to an output of the energy reservoir;

a current sensor operationally coupled to the current input; and

a processor which ascertains whether the device has a blockage dependent on said adjusting based on an output of the current sensor, and which monitors a voltage level supplied by the energy reservoir based on an output of the voltage sensor.

2. The drug infusion device of claim 1, wherein said performance sensor includes a revolution counter.

3. The drug infusion device of claim 1, wherein said actuator includes a DC motor.

4. The drug infusion device of claim 3, further comprising:

a pulse density circuit, and wherein said adjusting is by pulse density modulation.

5. The drug infusion device of claim 1, wherein said processor integrates the current measured by the current sensor over time.

6. The drug infusion device of claim 1, wherein the controller also adjusts the current input to the actuator according to an output of the voltage sensor.

7. A drug infusion device comprising:

a DC power source;

an actuator;

a performance sensor operationally coupled to an output of said actuator;

a controller which adjusts a current input to said actuator according to an output of said performance sensor;

an energy reservoir operationally coupled to the DC power source and to the controller;

a voltage sensor operationally coupled to an output of the energy reservoir;

a current sensor operationally coupled to the current input; and

a processor which ascertains whether the device has a disengagement malfunction dependent on said adjusting based on an output of the current sensor, and which monitors a voltage level supplied by the energy reservoir based on an output of the voltage sensor.

8. The drug infusion device of claim 7, wherein said performance sensor includes a revolution counter.

9. The drug infusion device of claim 7, wherein said actuator includes a DC motor.

10. The drug infusion device of claim 9, further comprising:

a pulse density circuit, and wherein said adjusting is by pulse density modulation.

11. The drug infusion device of claim 10, wherein said processor integrates the current measured by the current sensor over time.

12. The drug infusion device of claim 7, wherein the controller also adjusts the current input to the actuator according to an output of the voltage sensor.

13. A drug infusion device comprising:

a DC power source;

an actuator;

a performance sensor operationally coupled to an output of said actuator;

a controller which adjusts a current input to said actuator according to an output of said performance sensor;

an energy reservoir operationally coupled to the DC power source and to the controller;

a voltage sensor operationally coupled to an output of the energy reservoir;

a current sensor operationally coupled to the current input; and

a processor which ascertains whether the device is discharging medicine dependent on said adjusting based on an output of the current sensor, and which monitors a voltage level supplied by the energy reservoir based on an output of the voltage sensor.

14. The drug infusion device of claim 13, wherein said performance sensor includes a revolution counter.

15. The drug infusion device of claim 13, wherein said actuator includes a DC motor.

16. The drug infusion device of claim 15, further comprising:

a pulse density circuit, and wherein said adjusting is by pulse density modulation.

17. The drug infusion device of claim 16, wherein said processor integrates the current measured by the current sensor over time.

18. The drug infusion device of claim 13, wherein the controller also adjusts the current input to the actuator according to an output of the voltage sensor.