System and method for blockage detection for medication infusion
First Claim
1. A system for percutaneous infusion of an internal wound site, the system comprising:
- a first reservoir shaped to contain a first fluid;
a tube having a preferentially distendable portion at which distention of a diameter of the tube in response to blockage of the tube is amplified, the preferentially distendable portion having a noncircular cross sectional shape in the absence of blockage of the tube;
a motor operable to urge the first fluid toward the internal wound site via the tube; and
a blockage sensor that measures distention of the preferentially distendable portion to detect blockage of the tube, wherein the blockage sensor comprises a switch configured to be actuated between an open circuit condition and a closed circuit condition in response to receipt of mechanical force exerted by distention of the tube.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medication infusion system may include a controller and a reservoir module including a reservoir containing medication to be delivered to an internal wound site via the controller. The controller may have a peristaltic pump driven by a motor to urge medication to flow toward the internal wound site, through a conduit. A blockage sensor disables the motor and provides an alarm if the tube is blocked. The blockage sensor detects distention of a preferentially distendable portion of the tube, which may be routed about a constraining member. When blockage occurs, the tube distends preferentially along a direction generally parallel to the radius about which the tube bends. The blockage sensor may include a variety of switching elements, such as a pushbutton switch, a metal ring encircling the tube to make contact between conductors, and/or a metal bridge bendable to make contact between conductors.
50 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A system for percutaneous infusion of an internal wound site, the system comprising:
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a first reservoir shaped to contain a first fluid;
a tube having a preferentially distendable portion at which distention of a diameter of the tube in response to blockage of the tube is amplified, the preferentially distendable portion having a noncircular cross sectional shape in the absence of blockage of the tube;
a motor operable to urge the first fluid toward the internal wound site via the tube; and
a blockage sensor that measures distention of the preferentially distendable portion to detect blockage of the tube, wherein the blockage sensor comprises a switch configured to be actuated between an open circuit condition and a closed circuit condition in response to receipt of mechanical force exerted by distention of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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5. (cancelled)
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6. (cancelled)
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15. A controller of a system for percutaneous infusion and aspiration of an internal wound site, the controller comprising:
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a motor operable to urge a first fluid from a first reservoir toward the internal wound site via a tube, wherein the motor is further operable to draw a second fluid from the internal wound site; and
a blockage sensor that detects blockage of the tube by measuring preferential distention of the tube along a direction perpendicular to an axis of the tube, wherein the blockage sensor comprises a switch configured to be actuated between an open circuit condition and a closed circuit condition in response to receipt of mechanical force exerted by distention of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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18. (cancelled)
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26. A method for detecting blockage of a tube of a system for percutaneous infusion of an internal wound site, the system comprising a controller having a motor operable to urge a first fluid from a first reservoir toward the internal wound site via the tube, the method comprising:
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providing a preferentially distendable portion of the tube, the preferentially distendable portion having a noncircular cross sectional shape in the absence of blockage of the tube;
distending the preferentially distendable portion to exert mechanical force; and
receiving the mechanical force with a switch to actuate the switch between an open circuit condition and a closed circuit condition to detect blockage of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (27, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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28. (cancelled)
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29. (cancelled)
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36. A system for percutaneous infusion of an internal wound site, the system comprising:
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a reservoir module comprising a first reservoir shaped to contain a first fluid; and
a controller designed to receive the reservoir module, the controller comprising a motor and a peristaltic pump driven by the motor to urge the first fluid toward the internal wound site via a tube, the tube having a preferentially distendable portion at which the tube is routed about a fixed constraining member such that a diameter of the tube is constrained along a direction generally parallel to a radius about which the tube bends along a substantially arcuate pathway, the controller further comprising a blockage sensor that detects blockage of the tube by measuring preferential distention of the preferentially distendable portion along the direction. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification