Apparatus and process for infusion monitoring
First Claim
1. An infusion monitoring apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
a pole clamp extending from the housing for removable attachment to a pole;
an arm extending from the housing for holding an infusion fluid bag;
an electronic weight sensing mechanism disposed within the housing and associated with the arm;
a control circuit electronically connected to the sensing mechanism for detecting at least one of (1) a no-fluid-flow condition, (2) a near empty bag condition, and (3) preselected amount of fluid loss condition; and
an alarm activated when (1) the no-fluid-flow condition, (2) the near empty bag condition, or (3) the preselected amount of fluid loss condition has been detected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process for monitoring infusion into a patient includes hanging a fluid bag from a monitoring apparatus. The weight of the fluid bag is periodically measured, using an electronic weight sensing mechanism and a microprocessor, to detect either a no-fluid-flow condition, a near empty bag condition, or a preselected amount of fluid loss condition. A switch is depressed on the monitoring apparatus for selecting the monitoring of an amount of fluid to be infused totaling less than the fluid within the fluid infusion bag. Otherwise, the apparatus detects a near empty bag condition. An alarm is activated when either the no-fluid-flow condition, the near empty bag condition, or the preselected amount of fluid loss condition has been detected. The rate of fluid loss from the fluid bag can be calculated and displayed.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An infusion monitoring apparatus, comprising:
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a housing;
a pole clamp extending from the housing for removable attachment to a pole;
an arm extending from the housing for holding an infusion fluid bag;
an electronic weight sensing mechanism disposed within the housing and associated with the arm;
a control circuit electronically connected to the sensing mechanism for detecting at least one of (1) a no-fluid-flow condition, (2) a near empty bag condition, and (3) preselected amount of fluid loss condition; and
an alarm activated when (1) the no-fluid-flow condition, (2) the near empty bag condition, or (3) the preselected amount of fluid loss condition has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A process for monitoring fluid infusion into a patient, comprising the steps of:
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hanging a fluid infusion bag from a monitoring apparatus;
periodically measuring the weight of the fluid infusion bag, using an electronic weight sensing mechanism and a control circuit, to detect at least one of (1) a no-fluid-flow condition, (2) a near empty bag condition, and (3) a preselected amount of fluid loss condition; and
activating an alarm when (1) the no fluid flow condition, (2) the near empty bag condition, or (3) the preselected amount of fluid loss condition has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification