Multi-state alarm system for a medical pump

• US 20050267402A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Todd, Brett, Wong, Lai H., Kivlehan, Todd, Mullan, Janet, Stewart, Janice, Meinzer, Randolph, Bello, Debra K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,961,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16831 Monitoring, detecting, signalling or eliminating infusion flow anomalies low-level float-valves causing cut-off A61M5/40; indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of flow in general G01P13/0066
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1684 by detecting the amount of infusate remaining, e.g. signalling end of infusion

Abstract

An alarm system (52) for a medical pump (50) associated with delivering a fluid (54) to a patient in connection with treatment of the patient is provided. The alarm system (52) comprises an alarm (60) associated with at least one treatment parameter. The alarm (60) includes a first alarm state (1) associated with a first event relating to the treatment parameter and a second alarm state (2) associated with a second event. The second alarm state (2) is discernable from the first alarm state (1), which will allow each of the events to be treated differently by a caregiver.

Claims

1. An alarm system for a medical pump associated with delivering a medicament to a patient, the alarm system comprising an alarm associated with at least one treatment parameter, the alarm having a first alarm state associated with a first event relating to the at least one treatment parameter, and a second alarm state associated with a second event, the second alarm state discernable from the first alarm state.

2. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the second event relates to the at least one treatment parameter.

3. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the second event relates to a treatment parameter different from the at least one treatment parameter.

4. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the second event is defined by expiration of an amount of time measured from occurrence of the first event.

5. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the second event is defined by a deviation from a value associated with the at least one treatment parameter.

6. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the second alarm state is an escalation of a frequency associated with the first alarm state.

7. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment parameter is associated with the pump.

8. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment parameter is associated with a source external to the pump.

9. The alarm of claim 1, wherein an alarm signal associated with the alarm states is routed to a device external to the pump.

10. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the alarm is audible.

11. The alarm system of claim 10, wherein the second alarm state has a volume level that is discernable from the first alarm state.

12. The alarm system of claim 10, wherein the second alarm state has a tone that is discernable from the first alarm state.

13. The alarm system of claim 10, wherein the second alarm state has a frequency that is discernable from the first alarm state.

14. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the alarm is visual.

15. The alarm system of claim 14, wherein the second alarm state has an appearance that is discernable from the first alarm state.

16. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the alarm has an audible component and a visual component.

17. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the second event is associated with a life-threatening situation for the patient.

18. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the pump is adapted to shut off when the alarm is in the second alarm state.

19. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the events can be set by a user.

20. The alarm system of claim 1, wherein the second alarm state is only operational with a particular medicament.

21. The alarm system of claim 20, wherein identification of the particular medicament is adapted to be stored in a memory associated with the pump.

22. An alarm system for a medical pump associated with delivering a medicament to a patient, the alarm system comprising an alarm associated with at least one treatment parameter, the alarm having a first alarm state associated with a first event relating to the at least one treatment parameter, and a second alarm state associated with a second event relating to the at least one treatment parameter, the second alarm state discernable from the first alarm state.

23. The alarm system of claim 22 wherein the alarm is perceptive to an operator.

24. The alarm system of claim 22, wherein the at least one treatment parameter is associated with a source external to the pump.

25. The alarm of claim 22, wherein an alarm signal associated with the alarm states is routed to a device external to the pump.

26. An alarm system for a medical pump for delivering a therapeutic fluid to a patient, the alarm system comprising an alarm associated with at least one operating parameter, the alarm having a first alarm state and a second alarm state, the first alarm state indicating a non-critical deviation from an original value of the at least one operating parameter, the second alarm state discernable from the first alarm state and indicating a critical deviation from the original value of the at least one operating parameter.

27. An alarm system for a medical pump associated with delivering a fluid to a patient in connection with treatment of the patient, the alarm system comprising:

an alarm associated with at least one treatment parameter, the alarm having a first alarm state associated with a first event relating to the at least one treatment parameter, and a second alarm state associated with a second event relating to the at least one treatment parameter, the second alarm state discernable from the first alarm state; and

a snooze element that, when activated, enables the second alarm state to be activated upon occurrence of the second event.

28. The alarm system of claim 27, wherein the second event is preprogrammed into a memory of the system.

29. The alarm system of claim 27, wherein the second event is programmed into a memory of the system at a point of care of the patient.

30. The alarm system of claim 27, the alarm further including a third alarm state associated with a third event.

31. The alarm system of claim 27, wherein the second event is a value associated with the treatment parameter.

32. The alarm system of claim 31, wherein the value is a unit of time.

33. The alarm system of claim 31, wherein one of the first and second alarm states comprises an escalating alarm that escalates relative to a change in the treatment parameter.

34. The alarm system of claim 31, wherein the value is related to a volume parameter of the fluid.

35. The alarm of claim 31, wherein the value is a unit of time remaining until a predetermined volume level of fluid is reached during operation of the pump.

36. A method of notification via an alarm system associated with delivering a fluid to a patient in connection with treatment of the patient, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling a first alarm state within the alarm system;

enabling a second alarm state within the alarm system that is discernable from the first alarm state;

activating the first alarm state of the alarm system upon occurrence of a first event; and

activating the second alarm state of the alarm system upon occurrence of a second event.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

programming the first event within a memory associated with the alarm system; and

programming the second event within the memory associated with the alarm system.

38. A method of notification via an alarm system associated with delivering a fluid to a patient in connection with treatment of the patient, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling a first alarm state within the alarm system;

activating the first alarm state of the alarm system upon occurrence of a first event;

enabling a second alarm state within the alarm system after activating the first alarm state, the second alarm state discernable from the first alarm state; and

activating the second alarm state of the alarm system upon occurrence of a second event.

39. A method of notification via an alarm system associated with delivering a fluid to a patient in connection with treatment of the patient, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a first event;

associating a first alarm state within the alarm system with the first event;

defining a second event;

associating a second alarm state within the alarm system with the second event;

activating the first alarm state of the alarm system upon occurrence of the first event; and

activating the second alarm state of the alarm system upon occurrence of the second event.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of:

enabling the second alarm state within the alarm system after activating the first alarm state, the second alarm state discernable from the first alarm state.

41. An alarm system for a medical device used in connection with treatment of a patient, the alarm system comprising:

an alarm associated with at least one treatment parameter, the alarm having a first alarm state associated with a first event relating to the at least one treatment parameter, and a second alarm state associated with a second event relating to the at least one treatment parameter, the second alarm state discernable from the first alarm state; and

a snooze element that, when activated, enables the second alarm state to be activated upon occurrence of the second event.

42. A pump assembly associated with delivering a medicament to a patient comprising a MEMS pump having an alarm system having an alarm associated with at least one treatment parameter, the alarm having a first alarm state associated with a first event relating to the at least one treatment parameter, and a second alarm state associated with a second event, the second alarm state discernable from the first alarm state.

43. The pump assembly of claim 42 wherein the MEMS pump has a controller and the alarm system residing in the controller, the controller communicating with the MEMS pump via a wireless connection.

44. A pump assembly associated with delivery of a medicament to a patient comprising a MEMS pump having an alarm system having an alarm associated with at least one treatment parameter, the alarm having a first alarm state associated with a first event relating to the at least one treatment parameter, and a second alarm state associated with a second event relating to the at least one treatment parameter, the second alarm state discernable from the first alarm state;

and a snooze element that, when activated, enables the second alarm state to be activated upon occurrence of the second event.