Method and apparatus for closed-loop flow control system
First Claim
1. A system for delivering a fluid at a desired flow rate from a reservoir to a delivery point associated with a patient, said system comprising:
- a delivery channel between the reservoir and the delivery point through which the fluid is delivered to the patient;
a pump associated with the delivery channel for operatively delivering the fluid to the delivery point at an adjustable output rate;
a flow sensor located along the delivery channel for sensing a flow of the fluid in the delivery channel and for generating a flow rate signal indicative of a rate of flow of the fluid in the delivery channel, said flow sensor comprising a positive displacement flow sensor; and
a controller for controlling the pump, said controller causing adjustments to the output rate of the pump as a function of the flow rate signal whereby the desired flow rate is substantially achieved.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid delivery system having a closed-loop control process for delivering a medical fluid to a patient. A fluid infusion system includes a pump for delivering a fluid to a patient via an administration tube. A flow sensor associated with the administration tube provides an indication of the actual flow rate of fluid in the administration tube. Such a flow sensor may comprise a positive displacement flow sensor constructed using micro-fabrication and/or micro-molding techniques. A reader reads the actual flow rate signal and provides an indication to a controller for controlling the pump. The flow rate information can also be used for providing status information, such as the existence of a blockage in the fluid delivery system.
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Citations
78 Claims
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1. A system for delivering a fluid at a desired flow rate from a reservoir to a delivery point associated with a patient, said system comprising:
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a delivery channel between the reservoir and the delivery point through which the fluid is delivered to the patient;
a pump associated with the delivery channel for operatively delivering the fluid to the delivery point at an adjustable output rate;
a flow sensor located along the delivery channel for sensing a flow of the fluid in the delivery channel and for generating a flow rate signal indicative of a rate of flow of the fluid in the delivery channel, said flow sensor comprising a positive displacement flow sensor; and
a controller for controlling the pump, said controller causing adjustments to the output rate of the pump as a function of the flow rate signal whereby the desired flow rate is substantially achieved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A closed-loop fluid delivery system for delivering a fluid from a reservoir to a delivery point associated with a patient at a desired delivery rate via an administration tube, said closed-loop fluid delivery system comprising:
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fluid delivery means located along the administration tube for operatively supplying the fluid to the delivery point at a controllable output rate;
positive displacement flow sensing means located between the fluid delivery means and the delivery point for sensing an actual flow rate of the fluid in the delivery channel and for generating a flow rate signal indicative of the actual flow rate of the fluid in the delivery channel; and
control means associated with the fluid delivery means receiving and responsive to the flow rate signal for adjusting the output rate of the fluid delivery means such that the desired delivery rate at which the fluid is supplied to the delivery point associated with the patient is substantially achieved. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for delivering a fluid from a reservoir to a delivery point associated with a patient at a desired delivery rate via an administration tube, said system comprising:
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a delivery mechanism operatively connected between the reservoir and the delivery point, said delivery mechanism being constructed and arranged for selectively delivering the fluid to the delivery point via the administration tube at a controllable output flow rate; and
a closed-loop control system controlling the output flow rate of the delivery mechanism, said closed-loop control system comprising;
a positive displacement flow sensor connected in-line with the administration tube for determining an actual flow rate of the fluid in the administration tube and for providing an flow rate indication reflecting the actual flow rate;
a reader associated with the positive displacement flow sensor for receiving the flow rate indication and for providing a flow control signal reflecting the flow rate indication; and
a controller associated with the delivery mechanism receiving and responsive to the flow control signal for controlling the output flow rate of the delivery mechanism as a function of the flow control signal such that the output flow rate is substantially equal to the desired delivery rate. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of delivering a medical fluid to a delivery point associated with a patient at a desired delivery flow rate comprising:
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operatively connecting a reservoir to a delivery mechanism, said reservoir containing the medical fluid to be delivered to the delivery point;
operatively connecting the delivery mechanism to an administration tube, said administration tube being in fluid communication with the delivery point, said delivery mechanism receiving the medical fluid from the reservoir and supplying the medical fluid to the delivery point via the administration tube at an output flow rate;
sensing the output flow rate of the medical fluid in the administration tube using a positive displacement flow sensor;
comparing the sensed output flow rate of the medical fluid with the desired delivery flow rate; and
controlling the delivery mechanism such that the output flow rate substantially corresponds to the desired delivery flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A closed-loop flow control system for controlling a medical fluid delivery system, said medical fluid delivery system delivering a fluid from a reservoir to a delivery point associated with a patient at a desired delivery rate via an administration tube, said medical fluid delivery system including a delivery mechanism operatively connected between the reservoir and the delivery point, said delivery mechanism being constructed and arranged for delivering the fluid to the delivery point via the administration tube at a controllable output flow rate, said closed-loop flow control system comprising:
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a positive displacement flow sensor connected in-line with the administration tube for determining an actual flow rate of the fluid in the administration tube and for providing an flow rate indication reflecting the actual flow rate;
a reader associated with the positive displacement flow sensor for receiving the flow rate indication and for providing a flow control signal reflecting the flow rate indication; and
a controller associated with the delivery mechanism receiving and responsive to the flow control signal for controlling the output flow rate of the delivery mechanism as a function of the flow control signal such that the output flow rate is substantially equal to the desired delivery rate. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58)
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59. A method of detecting a blockage in a medical fluid delivery system arranged for delivering a medical fluid to a delivery point associated with a patient at a desired flow rate, the method comprising:
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operatively connecting a reservoir to a delivery mechanism, said reservoir containing the medical fluid to be delivered to the delivery point;
operatively connecting the delivery mechanism to an administration tube, said administration tube being in fluid communication with the delivery point, said delivery mechanism receiving the medical fluid from the reservoir and supplying the medical fluid to the delivery point via the administration tube at an output flow rate;
sensing the output flow rate of the medical fluid in the administration tube;
determining if the sensed output flow rate is indicative of a blockage in the administration tube; and
providing an alarm signal if it is determined that the sensed output flow rate indicates that the administration tube is blocked. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. An administration set for use in connection with a fluid delivery system, said fluid delivery system being arranged for delivering a fluid from a reservoir to a delivery point associated with a patient at a desired delivery rate, and wherein said fluid delivery system includes a pump having an output rate for delivering fluid from the reservoir to the delivery point and a controller for adjusting the output rate of the pump such that the desired delivery rate is substantially achieved, the administration set comprising:
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an administration tube for providing fluid communication between the reservoir and the delivery point; and
a positive displacement flow sensor located along the administration tube being sized and shaped for being positioned in fluid communication with the fluid within the administration tube, said positive displacement flow sensor for sensing a rate of flow of the fluid in the administration tube and for generating a flow rate signal indicative of the sensed rate of flow of the fluid in the administration tube whereby the controller adjusts the output rate of the pump as a function of the flow rate signal. - View Dependent Claims (67)
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68. A positive displacement flow sensor for use in connection with a medical fluid infusion system including an administration set having an administration tube, the positive displacement flow sensor comprising:
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a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, said ports being operatively connected to the administration tube;
a first rotor positioned within the housing between the inlet port and the outlet port;
a second rotor positioned within the housing between the inlet port and the outlet port, said second rotor being positioned adjacent to the first rotor, said first and second rotors being constructed and arranged to rotate in response to a flow of medical fluid in the administration tube for detecting flow of the medical fluid in the administration tube; and
a cover enclosing the housing such that when the medical fluid flows into the inlet port it causes the first rotor to rotate and thereafter said medical fluid exits through the outlet port. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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Specification