Apparatus for monitoring a patient during drug delivery

• US 20060042632A1
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bishop, Gregory D., Eyster, Curt R.
• Application Number:
  US11/158,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20060042632A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.180
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00154 using guiding arrangements for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6819 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7495 using a reader or scanner device, e.g. barcode scanner
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0672 Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0677 Gas-saving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0688 by means of an adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0808 Condensation traps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/085 Gas sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/048 : Anaesthetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/062 : Desiccants
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/05 : combined with other kinds of therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 : with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 : with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 : with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 : Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/273 : preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 : Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 : remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 : local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 : using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 : Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 : allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 : Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0618 : Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 : Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0662 : Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 : Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 : Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 : partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 : Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 : partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 : Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14228 : with linear peristaltic action, i.e. comprising at least three pressurising members or a helical member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/162 : Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14
• 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 5/172 : electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

Disclosed is a medical monitoring device coupled to a drug-delivery tube disposed to deliver drug to a patient. The medical monitoring device contains a pressure sensor positioned to sense the internal pressure of the drug-delivery tube and the output of the pressure sensor is transmitted to an occlusion program stored within the medical monitoring device. The occlusion program has a variable pressure alarm setting and alerts a user of an occluded drug-delivery tube when the output signal of the pressure sensor exceeds the variable pressure of the alarm setting. The occlusion program may change the alarm setting based entirely, or in part, on the variable commanded flow rate of the drug.

Claims

1. A medical effector subsystem comprising:

a) a drug-delivery tube which is adapted to contain therein a drug having a variable commanded flow rate and which is disposable to deliver the drug to a patient;

b) a pressure sensor having an output signal and adapted to sense internal pressure of the drug-delivery tube; and

c) a memory containing an occlusion program which when running on a processor is operatively connected to the output signal of the pressure sensor, wherein the occlusion program has a variable pressure alarm setting and alerts a user of an occluded drug-delivery tube when the output signal of the pressure sensor exceeds the variable pressure alarm setting, and wherein the occlusion program changes the variable pressure alarm setting based at least in part, and directly or indirectly, on the variable commanded flow rate of the drug.

2. The medical effector subsystem of claim 1, wherein the occlusion program sets the variable pressure alarm setting to a fixed low setting when the variable commanded flow rate is below a predetermined value and sets the variable pressure alarm setting to a fixed high setting when the variable commanded flow rate is at or above the predetermined value.

3. The medical effector subsystem of claim 1, wherein the occlusion program changes the variable pressure alarm setting whenever there is a change in the variable commanded flow rate.

4. The medical effector subsystem of claim 1, wherein the drug-delivery tube is an intravenous drug-delivery tube.

5. The medical effector subsystem of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor includes a pressure-sensitive input portion, wherein the drug-delivery tube has an imperforate outside surface portion, and wherein the input portion of the pressure sensor is disposed in contact with the imperforate outside surface portion of the drug-delivery tube.

6. The medical effector subsystem of claim 1, wherein the memory and the processor are components of a host controller of a procedure room unit, and wherein the memory also contains a drug delivery algorithm which when running on the processor determines the variable commanded flow rate.

7. The medical effector subsystem of claim 1, also including an infusion pump adapted to receive the variable commanded flow rate and having peristaltic pump fingers which are disposed to interact with the drug-delivery tube and which are controllable to pump the drug at the variable commanded flow rate.

8. A medical effector subsystem comprising:

a) a drug-delivery tube which is adapted to contain therein a drug having a variable commanded flow rate, which is disposable to deliver the drug to a patient, and which includes an imperforate outside surface portion;

b) a pressure sensor having an output signal and including a pressure-sensitive input portion disposed in contact with the imperforate outside surface portion of the drug-delivery tube; and

c) a memory containing an occlusion program which when running on a processor is operatively connected to the output signal of the pressure sensor, wherein the occlusion program has a variable pressure alarm setting and alerts a user of an occluded drug-delivery tube when the output signal of the pressure sensor exceeds the variable pressure alarm setting, and wherein the occlusion program changes the variable pressure alarm setting based entirely, and directly, on the variable commanded flow rate of the drug.

9. A medical effector subsystem comprising:

a) a drug-delivery tube which is adapted to contain therein a drug having a variable commanded flow rate and which is disposable to deliver the drug to a patient; and

b) a pressure sensor having an output signal and adapted to sense internal pressure of the drug-delivery tube; and

c) an occlusion alarm unit operatively connected to the output signal of the pressure sensor and having a variable pressure alarm setting to alert a user of an occluded drug-delivery tube when the output signal of the pressure sensor exceeds the variable pressure alarm setting, wherein the occlusion alarm unit changes the variable pressure alarm setting based at least in part, and directly or indirectly, on the variable commanded flow rate of the drug.

10. A drug-delivery infusion pump subassembly comprising:

a) a drug-delivery tube which is adapted to contain therein a drug and which is disposable to deliver the drug to a patient;

b) peristaltic pump fingers which are disposed to interact with the drug-delivery tube and which are controllable to pump the drug at a commanded flow rate;

c) a pressure sensor having an output signal and adapted to sense internal pressure of the drug-delivery tube downstream of the peristaltic pump fingers; and

d) an occlusion alarm unit operatively connected to the output signal of the pressure sensor and having a variable pressure alarm setting to alert a user of an occluded drug-delivery tube when the output signal of the pressure sensor exceeds the variable pressure alarm setting, wherein the occlusion alarm unit changes the variable pressure alarm setting based entirely, and directly, on the variable commanded flow rate of the drug.

11. The drug-delivery infusion pump subassembly of claim 10, wherein the drug-delivery tube, the peristaltic pump fingers, the pressure sensor, and the occlusion alarm unit are components of a procedure room unit of a medical effector system.