Optical imaging system with multiple imaging channel optical sensing
First Claim
1. For an infusion pump having a drip chamber coupled to an output tube and a drip tube coupling the drip chamber to a source of fluid, the drip tube having an end disposed within the drip chamber, a computer-implemented method of calculating a volume of a pendant drop that is suspended from the end of the drip tube and disposed within the drip chamber, the method comprising:
- transmitting light by at least one lighting element through a wall of the drip chamber to or through the pendant drop to illuminate at least the pendant drop and the end of the drip tube;
receiving the transmitted light by at least one optical sensor;
transmitting data regarding the received light from the at least one optical sensor to a microprocessor;
generating, using the microprocessor, an image comprising the pendant drop and the end of the drip tube using said transmitted data;
generating, using the microprocessor, a gravity vector based on a direction of gravity with respect to the pendant drop in the image;
establishing, using the microprocessor, a reference frame of the pendant drop in the image for image processing based on a reference point of the pendant drop and the gravity vector; and
calculating, using the microprocessor, the volume of the pendant drop based on the reference frame and the gravity vector.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of calculating a volume of a drop pendant using a microprocessor. Included in the method are generating a gravity vector based on a direction of gravity with respect to the drop pendant; establishing a reference frame of the drop pendant for an image processing based on a reference point of the drop pendant and the gravity vector; generating a first reference line associated with the reference frame for representing an actual orientation of the drop pendant; generating a second reference line associated with the reference frame for representing a longitudinal axis of a chamber in which the drop pendant is located; comparing the first and second reference lines with respect to the gravity vector; and calculating the volume of the drop pendant based on the comparison of the first and second reference lines and the gravity vector.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. For an infusion pump having a drip chamber coupled to an output tube and a drip tube coupling the drip chamber to a source of fluid, the drip tube having an end disposed within the drip chamber, a computer-implemented method of calculating a volume of a pendant drop that is suspended from the end of the drip tube and disposed within the drip chamber, the method comprising:
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transmitting light by at least one lighting element through a wall of the drip chamber to or through the pendant drop to illuminate at least the pendant drop and the end of the drip tube; receiving the transmitted light by at least one optical sensor; transmitting data regarding the received light from the at least one optical sensor to a microprocessor; generating, using the microprocessor, an image comprising the pendant drop and the end of the drip tube using said transmitted data; generating, using the microprocessor, a gravity vector based on a direction of gravity with respect to the pendant drop in the image; establishing, using the microprocessor, a reference frame of the pendant drop in the image for image processing based on a reference point of the pendant drop and the gravity vector; and calculating, using the microprocessor, the volume of the pendant drop based on the reference frame and the gravity vector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. For an infusion pump having a drip chamber coupled to an output tube and a drip tube coupling the drip chamber to a source of fluid, the drip tube having an end disposed within the drip chamber, an optical imaging system for calculating a volume of a pendant drop that is suspended from the end of the drip tube and disposed within the drip chamber, the system comprising:
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at least one lighting element disposed with respect to the drip chamber to transmit light through a wall of the drip chamber and to or through the pendant drop to illuminate at least the pendant drop and the end of the drip tube; at least one optical sensor disposed with respect to the drip chamber to receive the transmitted light; transmitting data regarding the received light from the at least one optical sensor to a microprocessor; a microprocessor executing computer-executable instructions to; receive transmitted data regarding the received light from the at least one optical sensor; generate an image comprising the pendant drop and the end of the drip tube using said transmitted data; generate a gravity vector based on a direction of gravity with respect to the pendant drop in the image; establish, using the microprocessor, a reference frame of the pendant drop in the image processing based on a reference point of the pendant drop and the gravity vector; and calculate the volume of the pendant drop based on the reference frame and the gravity vector. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification