Needle disengagement sensing mechanism
First Claim
1. A needle disengagement sensing mechanism, comprising:
- a fistula needle adapted to carry a fluid;
an electronic sensing system operatively connected to the fistula needle, the electronic sensing system capable of detecting at least partial disengagement of the fistula needle from a position engaged with the fluid, the detecting being a result of at least one of i) a comparative analysis of complex impedance measurements of the needle when in the fluid engaged position and when at least partially out of the fluid engaged position and ii) a comparative analysis of optical spectroscopic measurements taken through an area of the mechanism adapted to carry the fluid, the measurements being taken when the needle is in the fluid engaged position and when the needle is at least partially out of the fluid engaged position; and
an alarm control conduit operatively connecting the electronic sensing system to at least one of a hemodialysis machine and an electronic device, wherein the alarm control conduit generates an alarm upon detecting at least partial disengagement of the fistula needle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A needle disengagement sensing mechanism includes a fistula needle that is adapted to carry fluid. An electronic sensing system is operatively connected to the needle. The sensing system is capable of detecting partial or full disengagement of the needle from a position where it is engaged with the fluid. Disengagement detection is a result of i) a comparative analysis of complex impedance measurements of the needle when in and at least partially out of the fluid engaged position and/or ii) a comparative analysis of optical spectroscopic measurements taken through an area of the mechanism adapted to carry the fluid, the measurements being taken when the needle is in and at least partially out of the fluid engaged position. An alarm control conduit operatively connects the sensing system to a hemodialysis machine and/or an electronic device. The alarm control conduit generates an alarm upon detecting at least partial disengagement of the needle.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A needle disengagement sensing mechanism, comprising:
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a fistula needle adapted to carry a fluid;
an electronic sensing system operatively connected to the fistula needle, the electronic sensing system capable of detecting at least partial disengagement of the fistula needle from a position engaged with the fluid, the detecting being a result of at least one of i) a comparative analysis of complex impedance measurements of the needle when in the fluid engaged position and when at least partially out of the fluid engaged position and ii) a comparative analysis of optical spectroscopic measurements taken through an area of the mechanism adapted to carry the fluid, the measurements being taken when the needle is in the fluid engaged position and when the needle is at least partially out of the fluid engaged position; and
an alarm control conduit operatively connecting the electronic sensing system to at least one of a hemodialysis machine and an electronic device, wherein the alarm control conduit generates an alarm upon detecting at least partial disengagement of the fistula needle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for detecting at least partial disengagement of a fistula needle from a patient, the method comprising:
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inserting the fistula needle in the patient, the fistula needle being operatively connected to an electronic sensing system that is operatively connected to an alarm control conduit;
measuring, via the electronic sensing system, at least one of complex impedance of the needle and optical signals through an area adapted to carry fluid, the electronic sensing system capable of at least one of i) distinguishing between complex impedance when the needle is in a patient engaged position and complex impedance when the needle is in an at least partially patient disengaged position, and ii) distinguishing between an optical signal when the needle is in the patient engaged position and an optical signal when the needle is in the at least partially disengaged position; and
generating an alarm upon recognition of the needle in the at least partially disengaged position. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification