Device and method for qualitative and quantitative determination of intravenous fluid components

• US 20030204330A1
• Filed: 10/04/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dean O Allgeyer Md Inc
• Original Assignee: Dean O Allgeyer Md Inc
• Inventors: Allgeyer, Dean O.
• Granted Patent: US 6,847,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1405 Patient controlled analgesia [PCA]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/651 Cuvettes therefore
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/15 Preventing contamination of the components of the optical system or obstruction of the light path
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices

Abstract

A device and process for preventing medical errors due to the improper administration of an intravenously delivered medication includes the spectroscopic analysis of intravenous fluid components. An emission source and detector are placed adjacent to the intravenous tubing of an administration set to generate signals for spectroscopic analysis. The signals are processed to identify the medication and, in certain embodiments of the invention, can determine the medication'"'"'s concentration. In a preferred embodiment, the emission source, detector, and hardware and software for the spectroscopic analysis are placed in an infusion pump.

Claims

1. An infusion pump for spectroscopically analyzing one or more components of an intravenously delivered fluid, comprising:

a pump housing with an exterior and an interior;

a fluid path disposed within the interior of the housing;

an emission source disposed within the housing interior and adjacent to the fluid path for directing electromagnetic radiation at the fluid; and

a detector disposed within the housing interior and adjacent to the fluid path for detecting the electromagnetic radiation and for generating a signal for use in spectroscopically analyzing at least one component of the fluid.

2. The pump of claim 1, further comprising at least one of electronic hardware and software adapted to process the detector signal to spectroscopically analyze the at least one component of the fluid.

3. The pump of claim 1, further comprising an optical chamber disposed adjacent the emission source and the detector and through which the fluid passes during spectroscopic analysis.

4. The pump of claim 3, wherein the optical chamber is disposed between the emission source and the detector.

5. The pump of claim 2, further comprising controls disposed on the exterior of the pump housing for controlling at least one parameter related to the spectroscopic analysis.

6. The pump of claim 5, further comprising a display disposed on the exterior of the pump housing for displaying the at least one parameter.

7. The pump of claim 6, wherein one parameter is representative of the identity of the at least one component of the fluid.

8. The pump of claim 7, wherein the emission source comprises at least two light-emitting diodes.

9. The pump of claim 8, wherein a second parameter is representative of a maximum dosage of the at least one component of the fluid.

10. The pump of claim 9, further comprising a connection from the pump to at least one of remote electronic hardware and remote software adapted to spectroscopically analyze the at least one component of the fluid.

11. A process for identifying the components of an intravenous fluid delivered to a patient, comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid to be delivered intravenously;

connecting the fluid to an administration set;

connecting the administration set to the patient to provide the fluid intravenously to the patient; and

spectroscopically analyzing the fluid as the fluid is delivered to the patient to test for the presence of at least one component of the fluid.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein the step of spectroscopic analysis includes providing an emission source and a detector adjacent to the administration set to generate an electronic signal for use in the spectroscopic analysis.

13. The process of claim 12, further comprising the step of disposing the administration set in operative connection with an infusion pump.

14. The process of claim 12 wherein the analysis uses a reflectance-based method of signal analysis.

15. The process of claim 12 wherein the spectroscopic analysis uses a Raman method of signal analysis.

16. The process of claim 13, wherein in the step of spectroscopic analysis is performed inside the pump.

17. The process of claim 12, wherein the emission source comprises at least two light-emitting diodes.

18. The process of claim 13, wherein the analysis of the electronic signal is performed at a location remote from the infusion pump.

19. The process of claim 13, wherein the step of spectroscopic analysis includes providing an emission source and a detector adapted to analyze two or more components of the fluid.

20. The process of claim 19, wherein the emission source is a broadband emitter.

21. The process of claim 20, wherein the detector is a broadband detector.

22. A system for spectroscopically analyzing the components of an intravenous fluid to be delivered to a patient, comprising:

an intravenous administration set for delivering the fluid, the administration set having an optical window;

a spectroscopic analyzer operatively connected to the administration set, the analyzer including an emission source for directing electromagnetic radiation through the optical window at the fluid and a detector for detecting the electromagnetic radiation.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the administration set passes between the emission source and the detector.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the emission source comprises at least two light-emitting diodes.

25. The system of claim 23 further comprising at least one of electronic hardware and software associated with the spectroscopic analyzer.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one of electronic hardware and software is remote from the spectroscopic analyzer.

27. In an intravenous administration set having tubing to supply intravenous fluid to a patient, the improvement comprising:

an optical window adapted to permit the transmittance and detection of electromagnetic radiation for use in a spectroscopic analysis of the fluid.

28. The improved intravenous administration set of claim 27, further comprising an optical chamber containing the optical window.