Air in-line sensor for ambulatory drug infusion pump

• US 20030004458A1
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Platt, Patrick Hovis, Ralph Labedz
• Original Assignee: Michael Platt, Patrick Hovis, Ralph Labedz
• Inventors: Platt, Michael, Hovis, Patrick, LaBedz, Ralph
• Application Number:
  US10/234,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004458A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02433 Gases in liquids, e.g. bubbles, foams
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/048 Transmission, i.e. analysed material between transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/102 one emitter, one receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/032 by measuring attenuation of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/223 Supports, positioning or alignment in fixed situation mounting transducers per se G10K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/28 providing acoustic coupling , e.g. water impedance matching G10K11/02

Abstract

An air in-line sensor 10 for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube 12 utilizes a unitary type sensor having a channel 16 for receiving the tube 12. The channel 16 has a tube loading section 18. A signal emitting member 20 is positioned on one side of the tube 12 and a signal receiving member 22 is positioned on an opposite side of the tube 12. A first air baffle 24 is positioned between the signal emitting 20 and signal receiving members 22.

Claims

1. An air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube, the sensor comprising:

a channel for receiving the tube having a tube loading section;

a signal emitting member positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member positioned on an opposite side of the tube; and

,

a first air baffle positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member.

2. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a first lead-in section.

3. The sensor of claim 2 wherein the first lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a first sidewall of the channel, the first lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the first sidewall to the upper portion of the first sidewall.

4. The sensor of claim 1 wherein the first air baffle prevents an ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube.

5. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a second air baffle.

6. The sensor of claim 5 wherein the second air baffle is positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member.

7. The sensor of claim 6 wherein the second air baffle prevents an ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube.

8. The sensor of claim 1 further comprising a second lead-in section positioned opposite the first lead-in section.

9. The sensor of claim 8 wherein the second lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a second sidewall of the channel, the second lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the second sidewall to the upper portion of the second sidewall.

10. An air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube, the sensor comprising:

a channel for receiving the tube having a first lead-in section, and a tube loading section;

a signal emitting member positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member positioned on an opposite side of the tube; and

,

a first air baffle positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member.

11. The sensor of claim 10 wherein the first lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a first sidewall of the channel, the first lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the first sidewall to the upper portion of the first sidewall.

12. The sensor of claim 10 wherein the first air baffle prevents an ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube.

13. The sensor of claim 10 further comprising a second air baffle.

14. The sensor of claim 13 wherein the second air baffle is positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member.

15. The sensor of claim 14 wherein the second air baffle prevents an ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube.

16. The sensor of claim 10 further comprising a second lead-in section positioned opposite the first lead-in section.

17. The sensor of claim 16 wherein the second lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a second sidewall of the channel, the second lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the second sidewall to the upper portion of the second sidewall.

19. The sensor of claim 18 further comprising a signal emitting member positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member positioned on an opposite side of the tube.

20. The sensor of claim 18 further comprising a first lead-in section.

21. The sensor of claim 20 wherein the first lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a first sidewall of the channel, the first lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the first sidewall to the upper portion of the first sidewall.

22. The sensor of claim 20 further comprising a second lead-in section positioned opposite the first lead-in section.

23. The sensor of claim 22 wherein the second lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a second sidewall of the channel, the second lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the second sidewall to the upper portion of the second sidewall.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising a signal emitting member positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member positioned on an opposite side of the tube.

26. The sensor of claim 24 wherein the first lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a first sidewall of the channel, the first lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the first sidewall to the upper portion of the first sidewall.

27. The sensor of claim 24 further comprising a second lead-in section positioned opposite the first lead-in section.

28. The sensor of claim 27 wherein the second lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a second sidewall of the channel, the second lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the second sidewall to the upper portion of the second sidewall.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the pumping mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a peristaltic pump, a roller pump, an expulsor pump, a finger pump and a piston cassette pump.

31. The sensor of claim 29 wherein the first lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a first sidewall of the channel, the first lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the first sidewall to the upper portion of the first sidewall.

32. The sensor of claim 29 wherein the first air baffle prevents an ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube.

33. The sensor of claim 29 further comprising a second air baffle.

34. The sensor of claim 33 wherein the second air baffle is positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member.

35. The sensor of claim 34 wherein the second air baffle prevents an ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube.

36. The sensor of claim 29 further comprising a second lead-in section positioned opposite the first lead-in section.

37. The sensor of claim 36 wherein the second lead-in section comprises an upper portion of a second sidewall of the channel, the second lead-in section tapers upwardly and outwardly from an intermediate portion of the second sidewall to the upper portion of the second sidewall.

39. The sensor of claim 38 wherein the means for emitting is a transducer.

40. The sensor of claim 38 wherein the means for preventing employs two air baffles positioned between a signal emitting member and a signal receiving member.

41. The sensor of claim 38 wherein the means for detecting is a transducer.

42. The sensor of claim 38 wherein the means for measuring employs an electrical circuit.

43. The sensor of claim 38 wherein the means for comparing employs a voltage comparator.

18. An air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube located in a tube loader, the sensor comprising:

a channel for receiving the tube having a tube loading section; and

,

the tube loader having a stationary section and a movable section hingedly connected to the stationary section, the movable section having a blade having a radius of curvature for positioning the tube in the tube loading section.

24. An air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube located in a tube loader, the sensor comprising:

a channel for receiving the tube having a first lead-in section, and a tube loading section; and

,

the tube loader having a stationary section and a movable section hingedly connected to the stationary section, the movable section having a blade having a radius of curvature for positioning the tube in the tube loading section.

29. An air in-line sensor system for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube located in a pumping mechanism, the tube extending from a supply bag of the therapeutic solution to a patient through the system, the system comprising:

a channel for receiving the tube having a first lead-in section, and a tube loading section;

a signal emitting member positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member positioned on an opposite side of the tube;

a first air baffle positioned between the signal emitting member and the signal receiving member; and

,

the tube loader having a stationary section and a movable section hingedly connected to the stationary section, the movable section having a blade having a radius of curvature for positioning the tube in the tube loading section.

38. An air in-line sensor for detecting air bubbles in a therapeutic solution flowing through a tube, the sensor comprising:

means for emitting an ultrasonic signal through the tube;

means for preventing the ultrasonic signal from traveling around the tube;

means for detecting the ultrasonic signal emitted through the tube;

means for measuring the strength of the ultrasonic signal emitted through the tube;

means for comparing the strength of the ultrasonic signal to a preset voltage value;

means for outputting a preset, maximum value for liquid and a preset, minimum value for air; and

,

means for determining whether to sound an air in-line alarm.

44. A method for loading a tube into a channel of a medical pump comprising the steps of:

providing a tube loader having a stationary section and a movable section, the movable section having a blade having a radius of curvature;

positioning the tube proximate the channel;

placing the blade in contact with the tube; and

,

moving the blade until the tube is positioned within the tube loading section.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of providing an air sensor having a channel having a first lead-in section and a tube loading section, and a signal emitting member positioned on one side of the tube and a signal receiving member positioned on an opposite side of the tube.