Drug delivery and monitoring system

• US 20010056258A1
• Filed: 03/21/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: DocuSys, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Evans, Robert F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,685,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6009 for matching patient with his treatment, e.g. to improve transfusion security
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1684 by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31533 Dosing mechanisms, i.e. setting a dose administrating mechanisms A61M5/31565
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

A drug administration system includes a cradle attached about an intravenous injection port having a flange extending therefrom. The cradle supports first drug administration information in the nature of machine and human readable code, for example, barcode. A syringe including a needle includes a flange extending from the syringe. The syringe supports second drug administration information in machine and/or human readable form. A scanner module is constructed to slidably receive the flange of the cradle and syringe whereby the syringe needle is aligned with the intravenous injection port. The module may be provided with an electronic scanning system for identifying the first and second drug administration information, as well as determining the amount of the drug being administered from the syringe to the injection port by monitoring movement of the syringe plunger. The information and data may be stored within the module for uploading to a remote location.

Claims

1. A drug delivery and monitoring system comprising a scanner module including a first and second detector module, said first detector module determining drug administration data and identifying first drug administration information, said second detector module identifying second drug administration information, said scanner module including a storage device for storing said data and said first and second information;

a syringe including a barrel and a plunger moveable therein for administration of a drug, said syringe having said first drug administration information provided in association therewith, said syringe constructed to be releasably attached to said scanner module in operative association with said first detector module, whereby movement of said syringe relative to said first detector module causes said first detector module to identify said first drug administration information for storage in said storage device and movement of said plunger within said barrel causes said first detector module to determine said drug administration data for storage in said storage device;

a port cradle attachable to an injection port, said cradle having said second drug administration information provided in association therewith, said cradle constructed to be releasably attached to said scanner module in operative association with said second detector module, whereby movement of said cradle relative to said second detector module causes said second detector module to identify said second drug administration information for storage in said storage device.

2. The system of

claim 1

, further including a microprocessor in operative association with said first and second detector modules and said storage device.

3. The system of

claim 2

, further including a transceiver in operative association with said microprocessor for transmitting said drug administration data and said first and second drug administration information to a remote location.

4. The system of

claim 2

, further including a modem in operative association with said microprocessor for transmitting said drug administration data and said first and second drug administration information to a remote location.

5. The system of

claim 2

, further including a connector in operative association with said microprocessor for transmitting said drug administration data and said first and second drug administration information to a remote location.

6. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said storage device is removably insertable into said scanner module

7. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said first detector module comprises a pair of detectors.

8. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said detector modules comprise a photo sensing electronic detector and a fiberoptic array for carrying said drug administration data and said drug administration information.

9. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said second detector module comprises a single detector.

10. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said first detector module determines the amount of a drug being administered by said syringe in real time in the form of said drug administration data for storage in said storage device.

11. The system of

claim 1

, wherein said port cradle comprises a holder surrounding said injection port and a flange extending therefrom.

12. The system of

claim 11

, wherein said scanner module includes a slotted opening for slidingly receiving said flange therein for releasably attaching said port cradle to said scanner module.

13. The system of

claim 11

, wherein said second drug administration information is provided on said flange.

14. The system of

claim 11

, wherein said syringe includes a flange extending therefrom, said first drug administration information provided on said flange.

15. The system of

claim 14

, wherein said scanner module includes a slotted opening for slidably receiving said flange therein for releasably attaching said syringe to said scanner module, said syringe having a needle in alignment with said injector port when said port cradle is attached to said scanner module.

16. The system of

claim 1

, further including a drug container cradle attachable to a drug container, said drug container cradle having third drug administration information provided in association therewith, said drug container cradle constructed to be releasably attached to said scanner module in operative association with said second detector module, whereby movement of said drug container cradle relative to said second detector module causes said second detector module to identify said third drug administration information for storage in said storage device.

17. The system of

claim 16

, wherein said drug container cradle comprises a holder surrounding said drug container and a flange extending therefrom.

18. The system of

claim 17

, wherein said third drug administration information is provided on said flange.

19. A drug delivery and monitoring system comprising a scanner module including a first and second detector module, said first detector module determining drug administration data and identifying first drug administration information, said second detector module identifying second drug administration information, said scanner module including a storage device for storing said data and said first and second information;

a syringe including a barrel having a flange extending therefrom and a plunger moveable therein for administration of a drug, said syringe having said first drug administration information provided on said flange, said scanner module constructed to slidingly receive said flange of said syringe in operative association with said first detector module, whereby movement of said syringe relative to said first detector module causes said first detector module to identify said first drug administration information for storage in said storage device and movement of said plunger within said barrel causes said first detector module to determine said drug administration data for storage in said storage device;

a port cradle having a flange extending therefrom attachable to an injection port, said cradle having said second drug administration information provided on said flange thereof, said scanner module constructed to slidingly receive said flange of said cradle in operative association with said second detector module, whereby movement of said cradle relative to said second detector module causes said second detector module to identify said second drug administration information for storage in said storage device;

a microprocessor in operative association with said first and second detector modules and said storage device.

20. The system of

claim 19

, further including a transceiver in operative association with said microprocessor for transmitting said drug administration data and said first and second drug administration information to a remote location.

21. The system of

claim 19

, further including a drug container cradle attachable to a drug container, said drug container cradle having third drug administration information provided in association therewith, said drug container cradle constructed to be releasably attached to said scanner module in operative association with said second detector module, whereby movement of said drug container cradle relative to said second detector module causes said second detector module to identify said third drug administration information for storage in said storage device.

22. The system of

claim 19

, wherein said detector modules comprise a photo sensing electronic detector and a fiber optic array for carrying said drug administration data and said drug administration information.

23. A cradle for attachment to a drug container, said cradle comprising a housing for attachment about a drug container, and a flange extending therefrom, said flange supporting thereon drug administration information.

26. A cradle for attachment to an injection port, said cradle comprising a housing for attachment about an injection port, and a flange extending therefrom, said flange supporting thereon drug administration information.

24. The cradle of

claim 26

, wherein said housing includes an opening and said drug container includes a septum accessible through said opening for piercing by a needle attached to a syringe.

25. The cradle of

claim 26

, wherein said housing has a tubular shape with open ends defining an interior, said drug container attachable to said housing within said interior thereof.

27. The cradle of

claim 26

, wherein said drug administration information is in machine readable form.

28. The cradle of

claim 26

, wherein said housing includes an opening and said injection port includes a septum accessible through said opening for piercing by a needle attached to a syringe.

29. The cradle of

claim 26

, wherein said housing has a tubular shape with open ends defining an interior, said injection port attachable to said housing within said interior thereof.

30. A method for monitoring drug delivery to an injection port, said method comprising positioning a scanner module adjacent an injection port, said scanner module including first and second detector modules, said first detector module determining drug administration data and identifying first drug administration information, said second detector module identifying second drug administration information, said scanner module including a storage device for storing said data and said first and second information;

releasably securing a syringe loaded with a drug to be administered to said scanner module, said syringe having said first drug administration information provided in association therewith, identifying said first drug administration information by said first detector module, releasably securing a port cradle attached to an injection port to said scanner module, said port cradle having said second drug administration information provided in association therewith, identifying said second drug administration information by said second module detector, determining said drug administration data by said first detector module regarding the drug being delivered from said syringe to said injection port, and storing in said scanner module said first and second drug administration information and said drug administration data.

31. The method of

claim 30

, wherein said drug administration data comprises the amount of said drug delivered by said syringe.

32. The method of

claim 30

, further including transmitting said stored first and second drug administration information and said drug administration data to a storage device other than in said scanner module.

33. The method of

claim 30

, wherein said port cradle includes a flange extending therefrom and said scanner module includes a slotted opening for slidingly receiving said flange, wherein said identifying said second drug administration information comprises inserting said flange into said slotted opening and moving said port cradle into operative association with said second detector module.

34. The method of

claim 33

, wherein said second drug administration information is provided on said flange.

35. The method of

claim 30

, wherein said syringe includes a plunger for delivering said drug therefrom and wherein said determining said drug administration data comprises determining the distance of movement of said plunger within said syringe during drug delivery.

36. The method of

claim 35

, wherein said determining said drug administration data occurs in real time.

37. The method of

claim 30

, further including providing a drug container cradle attached to a drug container, said drug container cradle having third drug administration information provided in association therewith, said drug container cradle constructed to be releasably attached to said scanner module in operative association with said second detector module, and displacing said drug container cradle relative to said second detector module to identify said third drug administration information by said second detector module, and inserting a needle extending from said syringe into said drug container for filling said syringe with said drug.

38. The method of

claim 30

, wherein said first detector module comprises a first detector for determining said drug administration data and a second detector for identifying said first drug administration information.

39. The method of

claim 30

, further including monitoring drug delivery to a plurality of patients using the same scanner module.

40. A method for monitoring drug delivery to an injection port, said method comprising positioning a scanner module adjacent an injection port in fluid communication with a patient, said scanner module including first and second detector modules, said first detector module determining drug administration data and identifying first drug administration information, said second detector module identifying second drug administration information, said scanner module including a storage device for storing said data and said first and second information;

releasably securing a syringe loaded with a drug to be administered to said scanner module, said syringe including a flange having said first drug administration information provided thereon, moving said flange of said syringe into operative association with said first detector module, identifying said first drug administration information by said first detector module, releasably securing a port cradle attached to an injection port to said scanner module, said port cradle including a flange having said second drug administration information provided thereon, making said flange of said port cradle into operative association with said second detector module, identifying said second drug administration information by said second detector module, determining said drug administration data by said first detector module regarding the drug being delivered from said syringe to said injection port, wherein said syringe includes a plunger for delivering said drug therefrom and wherein said determining said drug administration data comprises determining the distance of movement of said plunger within said syringe during drug delivery and storing in said scanner module said first and second drug administration information and said drug administration data.

41. The method of

claim 40

, wherein said first and second drug administration information includes patient information.

42. The method of

claim 40

, further including providing a drug container cradle attached to a drug container, said drug container cradle having third drug administration information provided in association therewith, said drug container cradle constructed to be releasably attached to said scanner module in operative association with said second detector module, and displacing said drug container cradle relative to said second detector module to identify said third drug administration information by said second detector module, and inserting a needle extending from said syringe into said drug container for filling said syringe with said drug.

43. The method of

claim 40

, further including transmitting said stored first and second drug administration information and said drug administration data to a storage device other than in said scanner module.

44. The method of

claim 40

, wherein said determining said drug administration data occurs in real time.

45. A method for delivering and monitoring drugs to an injection port connected to a patient, said method comprising delivering a needle on a drug loaded syringe to said injection port, automatically determining identification information relative to the drug contained in the syringe by electronically scanning a label associated with said syringe, automatically determining information relative to the patient by electronically scanning a label associated with said injection port, pushing a plunger of the syringe to deliver a quantity of the drug through the port, monitoring movement of the plunger while delivering the drug for determining the volume of the drug delivered from the syringe, and storing the patient information obtained by scanning said label and the quantity of the drug delivered from said syringe.

46. The method of

claim 45

, further including transmitting the stored patient information and the quantity of the drug delivered to a remote storage device.

47. The method of

claim 45

, further including attaching said injection port to a port cradle having a flange to which said label is attached, said electronically scanning said label comprising moving said flange past a photosensing electronic detector.

48. A method for delivering and monitoring drugs to an injection port connected to a patient, said method comprising delivering a needle on a drug loaded syringe into the port, automatically determining identification information relative to the drug contained in the syringe by electronically scanning a label, pushing a plunger of the syringe to deliver a volume of the drug through the port, automatically determining information relative to the patient by electronically scanning a label associated with the injection port, monitoring movement of the plunger for the purpose of calculating the amount of drug delivered, and storing the patient information and amount of the drug delivered.

49. The method of

claim 48

, further including transmitting the stored patient information and the quantity of the drug delivered to a remote storage device.

50. The method of

claim 48

, further including attaching said injection port to a port cradle having a flange to which said label is attached, said electronically scanning said label comprising moving said flange past a photosensing electronic detector.

51. A method of determining patient information before administering a drug from a syringe to an injection port connected to said patient, said method comprising providing said patient information in machine readable form on a cradle for said injection port, and scanning said label by an electronic detector for reading said patient information before administering said drug.

52. The method of

claim 51

, further including storing said patient information read by said scanning.

53. The method of

claim 51

, wherein said scanning comprises scanning said label adhered to a flange extending from said cradle.

54. The method of

claim 53

, further including sliding said flange through a slotted opening with a scanning module, said scanning module housing said detector.

55. The method of

claim 51

, further including transmitting said patient information read by said scanning to a location remote from said detector.

56. A method of filling a syringe comprising providing a drug container cradle attached to a drug container, said drug container cradle having a flange extending therefrom supporting drug administration information, providing a scanner module having a detector for detecting said drug administration information, supporting a syringe having a needle by said scanner module, supporting said drug container cradle by said flange on said scanner module with said needle in alignment with said drug container, reading said drug administration information from said flange by said detector, inserting said needle into said drug container for loading said syringe, and storing said drug administration data within said scanner module.

57. The method of

claim 56

, further including transmitting said drug administration data to a remote location.

58. The method of

claim 56

, further including providing drug administration information in association with said syringe, reading said drug administration information associated with said syringe by another detector within said scanner module.

59. A drug administration system comprising a cradle attached about an injection port having a flange extending therefrom, said cradle supporting first drug information, a syringe including a needle having a flange extending from said syringe, said syringe supporting second drug administration information, and a housing slidably receiving said flange of said cradle and said syringe, whereby said needle is aligned with said injection port.

60. The system of

claim 59

, wherein said syringe includes a safety shield receivable within said cradle.

61. The system of

claim 59

, further including means within said housing for identifying said first and second drug administration information.

62. The system of

claim 61

, further including means for determining the amount of a drug being administered from said syringe into said injection port.

63. The system of

claim 59

, further including a microprocessor for storing said first and second drug administration information.