INFUSION SYSTEM FOR ADMINISTRATION OF A LIQUID MEDICATION

• US 20070083153A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Haar, Hans-Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/536,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083153A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0233 Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3355 Controlling downstream pump pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/35 Communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16859 Evaluation of pressure response, e.g. to an applied pulse
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence

Abstract

An infusion system for administration of a liquid medication may comprise a pump configured to pump the liquid medication through an infusion tube into the body of a patient, and a pressure sensor configured to monitor pressure in the infusion tube. The system may further comprise a control unit configured to control the pump. The infusion tube may carry a data line for communication of the control unit with either of the pump and the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor may monitor pressure in the infusion tube by detecting any pressure-effected expansion of a section of the infusion tube. The pressure sensor may comprise a first sensor surface arranged opposite to a second sensor surface that is carried by the section of the infusion tube. The fist and second sensor surfaces together may form a capacitor defining a capacitance that changes upon expansion of the section of the infusion tube.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. An infusion system for administration of a liquid medication comprising:

a pump configured to pump the liquid medication through an infusion tube into the body of a patient, and

a pressure sensor configured to monitor pressure in the infusion tube by detecting any pressure-effected expansion of a section of the infusion tube, the pressure sensor comprising a first sensor surface arranged opposite to a second sensor surface that is carried by the section of the infusion tube, the fist and second sensor surfaces together forming a capacitor defining a capacitance that changes upon expansion of the section of the infusion tube.

13. The infusion system of claim 12 further comprising a control unit configured to control the pump.

14. The infusion system of claim 13 wherein the control unit is configured to control the pump based on the pressure in the infusion tube by generating, as a function of the capacitance of the pressure sensor, control signals that control operation of the pump.

15. The infusion system of claim 14 wherein the control unit is configured to turn off the pump if the capacitance of the pressure sensor indicates that the pressure of the liquid medication in the infusion tube exceeds a threshold value.

16. The infusion system of claim 12 wherein the section of the infusion tube has a lesser wall thickness than neighboring tube sections.

17. The infusion tube of claim 16 wherein the section of the infusion tube has a wall thickness that is less than 60% of the wall thickness of neighboring wall sections.

18. The infusion system of claim 12 wherein the liquid medication is insulin.

19. The infusion system of claim 13 wherein the control unit comprises an interface for communication with at least one other device.

20. The infusion system of claim 19 wherein the interface is a wireless interface.

21. The infusion system of claim 19 wherein the at least one other device is a blood glucose measuring device.

22. The infusion system of claim 13 wherein the infusion tube carries a data line for communication of the control unit with either of the pump and the pressure sensor.

23. The infusion system of claim 22 wherein the data line is an infrared data line.

24. The infusion system of claim 22 wherein the data line is an electrical data line, and the electrical data line is capacitively coupled to the control unit and to either of the pump and the pressure sensor.

25. The infusion system of claim 24 wherein the electrical data line comprises a layer of metal carried by the infusion tube.

26. An infusion system for administration of a liquid medication comprising:

a pump configured to pump the medication through an infusion tube into the body of a patient,

a control unit configured to control the pump, and

a pressure sensor configured to monitor pressure in the infusion tube,

wherein the infusion tube carries a data line for communication of the control unit with either of the pump and the pressure sensor.

27. The infusion system of claim 26 wherein the data line is an infrared data line.

28. The infusion system of claim 26 wherein the data line is an electrical data line, and the electrical data line is capacitively coupled to the control unit and to either of the pump and the pressure sensor.

29. The infusion system of claim 28 wherein the electrical data line comprises a layer of metal carried by the infusion tube.

30. The infusion system of claim 26 wherein the control unit comprises an interface for communication with at least one other device.

31. The infusion system of claim 30 wherein the interface is a wireless interface.

32. The infusion system of claim 30 wherein the at least one other device is a blood glucose measuring device.