Apparatuses and methods for extravasation detection

• US 20030004433A1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Medrad Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Hirschman, Alan D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,751,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4869 Determining body composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16836 by sensing tissue properties at the infusion site, e.g. for detecting infiltration detecting tissue temperature for diagnostic purposes A61M39/0247

Abstract

An apparatus for the detection of extravasation is positioned in a manner so that the vicinity of a site is available for palpation and is visible for visual inspection. Another embodiment of the apparatus improves the sensitivity of detection by positioning an energy source and a receiver between a first layer of a high dielectric material and a second lay of a low dielectric material. The apparatus may further include a third layer of a conductive material to shield the apparatus from stray capacitance. In addition, a system for detection of extravasation includes an array of sensors located at, adjacent to and/or remote from an injection site.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the detection of extravasation in an injection procedure, the apparatus comprising:

a first energy source to supply energy to tissue in the vicinity of a site;

a first receiver to measure a first signal resulting from the energy supplied to the tissue by the first energy source;

at least a second energy source to supply energy to tissue in the vicinity of the site; and

at least a second receiver for measuring a second signal resulting from the energy supplied to the tissue by the second energy source,

the first energy source and the first receiver pair being orientated differently from the second energy source and the second receiver pair with respect to the site.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first energy source and the first receiver pair is oriented generally orthogonal to the second energy source and second receiver pairing.

3. A method for detecting extravasation in an injection procedure, the method comprising:

positioning a first sensor in a first orientation relative to a site; and

positioning at least a second sensor in a second orientation, different from the first orientation, relative to the site.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first sensor comprises a first energy source to supply energy to tissue in the vicinity of the site and a first receiver to measure a first signal resulting from the energy supplied to the tissue by the first energy source, and further wherein the second sensor comprises a second energy source to supply energy to tissue in the vicinity of the site and a second receiver to measure a second signal resulting from the energy supplied to the tissue by the second energy source.

5. An apparatus for the detection of extravasation in a patient, the apparatus comprising:

at least a first energy source to supply energy to tissue in the vicinity of a site; and

at least a first receiver to measure a signal resulting from the energy supplied to the tissue by the first energy source, the first energy source and the first receiver being positioned in non-physical contact with the patient.

6. An apparatus for the detection of extravasation in an injection procedure, the apparatus comprising:

a first layer of a material having a high dielectric constant;

a second layer of a material having a low dielectric constant;

at least one energy source to supply energy to tissue in the vicinity of a site; and

at least one receiver to measure a resulting signal, the energy source and the receiver being positioned between the first layer and the second layer, the second layer being positioned outside of the first layer relative to the tissue.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a third layer of a conductive material operable to shield the apparatus from stray capacitance, the third layer being positioned outside of the second layer relative to the tissue.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a layer of a hydrogel material positioned between the first layer and the tissue to improve electrical coupling with tissue.

9. A method for detecting extravasation in an injection procedure, the method comprising:

positioning an energy source and a receiver between a first layer of a high dielectric material and a second layer of a low dielectric material, the second layer being positioned outside of the first layer relative to a patient;

supplying energy to tissue in the vicinity of a site via the energy source; and

measuring a resulting signal with the receiver.

10. An apparatus for the detection of extravasation in an injection procedure, the apparatus comprising:

at least one energy source to supply energy to tissue in the vicinity of a site;

at least one receiver to measure a resulting signal; and

a layer of a conductive material to shield the apparatus from stray capacitance.

11. A method for detecting extravasation in an injection procedure, the method comprising:

supplying energy to tissue in the vicinity of a site via an energy source;

measuring a resulting signal with a receiver; and

shielding the energy source and the receiver from stray capacitance with a conductive material.