Intravenous set flow volumetric measurement device

• US 20030045840A1
• Filed: 09/05/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Burko Systems and Development Limited
• Original Assignee: Burko Systems and Development Limited
• Inventors: Burko, Zeev
• Granted Patent: US 6,599,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/253
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1689 Drip counters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/13 Infusion monitoring

Abstract

A method and device for volumetric measurement of a drop of fluid administered in a gravity intravenous set. Radiation, preferably infrared light is passed through from the exterior of the drip chamber of the intravenous set and is detected and quantified by a receiver on the other exterior side of the chamber. The radiation passing through the chamber when a drop is not passing through the radiation path is taken as the background radiation level. When a drop passes through the chamber a loss in radiation passing through to the receiver occurs. This relative loss is converted into a volume with the aid of a lookup table. The lookup table is created by accumulating empirical data of drops passing through various infusion sets determining a relative loss of radiation during the passing of the drop through the radiation and then weighing the drops and determining the volume of each drop in proportion to its specific gravity. The device and method is suitable for use with any IV set and is non-invasive.

Claims

1. A device for the volumetric measurement of a fluid administered in a gravity infusion set including a drip chamber, device comprising:

(a) a housing configured for releasable deployment around a cylindrical surface of the drip chamber, said housing including;

(i) a source of radiation, said source of radiation configured to emit radiation through the drip chamber in a path substantially perpendicular to an axis of said cylindrical surface; and

(ii) an optical receiver deployed to be adjacent to a portion of said cylindrical surface substantially opposite said source of radiation, said optical receiver configured for quantitatively sensing said radiation; and

a processor operative to calculate a volume of each drop passing through the drip chamber as a function of the relative loss of radiation quantitatively sensed by said receiver during passing of a drop against a background radiation.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation is configured to function in pulsed mode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation is configured to function in continuous mode.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation is light radiation.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation is infra-red radiation.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein a volume calculated is used for controlling the flow of a fluid administered in a gravity infusion set.

7. A method for calculating a volume delivered through an intravenous set with a drip chamber configured for the flow of the fluid substantially along the drip chamber'"'"'s axis, method comprising the steps of:

(a) passing radiation from the exterior of the drip chamber through the drip chamber via a path generally perpendicular to the drip chamber axis to a sensor positioned on an opposite position on the exterior of the drip chamber;

(b) detecting and quantifying a background radiation value passing through the drip chamber;

(c) detecting and quantifying a radiation value passing through a drop falling through the drip chamber in order to obtain data indicative of a radiation loss due to said drop passing though said radiation path; and

(iv) calculating a volume of said drop as a function of the relative loss of radiation detected during passing of said drop against said background radiation value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said radiation is configured to function in pulsed mode.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said radiation is configured to function in continuous mode.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said radiation is light radiation.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said radiation is infra-red radiation.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of controlling the flow of a fluid administered in a gravity infusion set using the volume calculated for a drop.

13. A method for calculating a volume delivered through an intravenous set with a drip chamber configured for the flow of the fluid substantially along the drip chamber'"'"'s axis, method comprising the steps of:

(a) passing radiation from the exterior of the drip chamber through the drip chamber via a path generally perpendicular to the drip chamber axis to a sensor positioned on an opposite position on the exterior of the drip chamber;

(b) detecting and quantifying a background radiation value passing through the drip chamber;

(c) detecting and quantifying a radiation value passing through a drop falling through the drip chamber in order to obtain data indicative of a radiation loss due to said drop passing though said radiation path; and

(d) deriving a volume measurement for said drop using a lookup table, said lookup table formed by accumulating empirical data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said radiation is configured to function in pulsed mode.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said radiation is configured to function in continuous mode.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said radiation is light radiation.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said radiation is infrared radiation.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of controlling the flow of a fluid administered in a gravity infusion set using the volume calculated for a drop.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said empirical data is accumulated by weighing a plurality of drops passed through said radiation path and determining the volume of each drop in proportion to its specific gravity.