Closed-loop IV fluid flow control
First Claim
1. A fluid delivery system for infusing a medicinal fluid supplied from a reservoir into a patient at a desired rate, comprising:
- (a) a fluid line through which the medicinal fluid is conveyed from the reservoir to a patient;
(b) a flow controller that selectively varies a rate of flow of the medicinal fluid through the fluid line;
(c) a processor that is controllably coupled to the flow controller, said processor operating the flow controller so as to vary a rate at which the medicinal fluid flows through the fluid line; and
(d) a flow sensor that monitors a rate of flow of the medicinal fluid through the fluid line, producing an output signal indicative thereof, said output signal being coupled to the processor, said processor controlling the flow controller in a closed-loop process as a function of the signal, to achieve the desired rate of infusion of the medicinal fluid into a patient.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a closed-loop process, a controller uses a flow sensor to monitor the flow of a medicinal fluid being infused into a patient, to achieve a desired rate of flow. A relatively inexpensive peristaltic pump or electronically controlled valve can be used to vary the flow of the medicinal fluid through a fluid line. A Y site within the fluid line includes an integral flow sensor having an orifice. The flow sensor includes proximal and distal pressure sensors disposed on opposite sides of the orifice to monitor the distal and proximal pressure, producing a signal indicative of the rate of flow of the medicinal fluid through the fluid line. A signal produced by the controller is input to a motor driving the pump or to the valve to vary the rate of flow as required to achieve the desired infusion rate of the medicinal fluid.
18 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A fluid delivery system for infusing a medicinal fluid supplied from a reservoir into a patient at a desired rate, comprising:
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(a) a fluid line through which the medicinal fluid is conveyed from the reservoir to a patient;
(b) a flow controller that selectively varies a rate of flow of the medicinal fluid through the fluid line;
(c) a processor that is controllably coupled to the flow controller, said processor operating the flow controller so as to vary a rate at which the medicinal fluid flows through the fluid line; and
(d) a flow sensor that monitors a rate of flow of the medicinal fluid through the fluid line, producing an output signal indicative thereof, said output signal being coupled to the processor, said processor controlling the flow controller in a closed-loop process as a function of the signal, to achieve the desired rate of infusion of the medicinal fluid into a patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A flow control for controlling a fluid flow through a fluid line to achieve a desired rate of infusion of a medicinal fluid into a patient, comprising:
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(a) a flow sensor adapted to be disposed in a fluid path of a medicinal fluid flowing through a fluid line, said flow sensor producing a signal indicative of a rate of flow of a medicinal fluid through the fluid path;
(b) a flow regulator adapted to be disposed within the fluid path for use in varying a rate of flow of a medicinal fluid through the fluid path; and
(c) a processor coupled to the flow sensor to receive the signal produced thereby, said processor being coupled to the flow regulator to control the rate of flow of a medicinal fluid through the flow regulator in response to the signal to achieve the desired rate of infusion. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for controlling a rate of infusion of a medicinal fluid into a patient through a fluid path, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a flow sensor in the fluid path, said flow sensor producing a signal indicative of a rate of flow of a medicinal fluid through fluid path;
(b) sensing the rate of flow of the medicinal fluid with the flow sensor to produce the signal;
(c) providing an electrically controlled flow regulating device in the fluid path; and
(d) automatically controlling the flow regulating device in response to the signal produced by the flow sensor to achieve a desired rate of flow of the medicinal fluid into a patient through the fluid path. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification