SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING INFORMATION RELATING TO MEDICAL FLUIDS AND CONTAINERS THEREFOR

• US 20080033368A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Incorporated (Mallinckrodt plc)
• Inventors: Fago, Frank M.
• Application Number:
  US11/617,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20080033368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/189
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4494 Means for identifying the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14553 comprising a pressure jacket
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1785 comprising radioactive shield means syringe shields or holders for storage of radioactive sources G21F5/018
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

The present invention relates to management of information relating to medical fluids, containers therefor, and medical fluid administration devices for administering such medical fluids to patients. Data tags (e.g., RFID tags) are generally associated with containers of the invention and may be electromagnetically read from and/or written to using an electromagnetic device, for example, that may be associated with a medical fluid administration device of the invention.

Claims

1. A medical fluid administration device for supporting a syringe filled with a fluid between a plunger and a discharge tip from which the fluid is dispensed, the syringe having a data tag for storing data readable from the data tag, the administration device comprising:

a powerhead comprising a plunger drive adapted to be connectable to the plunger;

an administration device control operatively connected to the powerhead;

a pressure jacket mountable on the powerhead and adapted to receive and support the syringe; and

an antenna mounted on the pressure jacket and operative to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals respectively, to and from, the data tag to read data stored in the data tag.

2. The administration device of claim 1 further comprising:

a tuning circuit electrically connected to the antenna for tuning the antenna to a desired frequency; and

a driver circuit electrically connected to the tuning circuit and the administration device control, the driver circuit providing a drive signal to the tuning circuit causing the antenna to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals respectively, to and from, the data tag to read data stored in the data tag.

3. The administration device of claim 2 wherein the desired frequency is about 13.56 Megahertz.

4. The administration device of claim 1 wherein the pressure jacket is mounted on a forward end of the powerhead.

5. The administration device of claim 1 wherein the pressure jacket comprises:

an cylindrical inner sleeve; and

an cylindrical outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve and the antenna is located between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve.

6. The administration device of claim 5 wherein the tuning circuit is located between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve.

7. The administration device of claim 5 further comprising:

a plurality of antennas mounted between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve;

a plurality of tuning circuits mounted between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve and electrically connected to respective ones of the plurality of antennas and the driver circuit for tuning the respective ones of the plurality of antennas to a desired frequency.

8. The administration device of claim 7 wherein the plurality of antennas is equally spaced about a circumference of the pressure jacket.

9. The administration device of claim 2 further comprising a switching circuit electrically connected between driver circuit and the plurality of tuning circuits and operable to connect the array of antennas and the plurality of tuning circuits in different circuit configurations.

10. The administration device of claim 2 wherein the switching circuit and the driver circuit are located in the powerhead.

11. A method of using a medical fluid administration device comprising an electromagnetic device operable to read data from and/or write data to a data tag, the data tag being readable by electromagnetic signals and being associated with a container having medical fluid disposed therein, the method containing:

electrically connecting an antenna mounted on a pressure jacket of the medical fluid administration device in a first circuit configuration; and

attempting an RF communication between the electromagnetic device and the data tag, wherein attempting comprises providing RF power to the first circuit configuration.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining whether or not RF communication is or was established between the device and the data tag;

if determined unsuccessful, electrically reconnecting the antenna in a further circuit configuration different from the first circuit configuration; and

attempting another RF communication between the electromagnetic device and the data tag, wherein the attempting another RF communication comprises providing RF power to the further circuit configuration.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising iterating the determining, the electrically reconnecting, and the attempting another RF communication until determining that a successful RF communication has been established between the device and the data tag.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein a desired RF communication frequency is about 13.56 Megahertz.