Software Features for Medical Infusion Pump

• US 20090270833A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kopp, Kevin Sean, Zalesky, Larry R., DeBelser, David, Hetchler, Clinton Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16868 Downstream occlusion sensors
• 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 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• 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: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

Various software features useable in a medical infusion pump are disclosed. In certain aspects, localized alarm and message handling systems are disclosed. In other aspects, variable intensity alarms are disclosed. In further aspects, cost tracking systems and methods for medical infusion pumps are disclosed. In still further aspects, methods and systems implementing a variable delay of pressure decay in a medical infusion pump are disclosed. In other aspects, methods and systems implementing a timed intermittent bolus by pressure are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of directing messages to individuals, the method comprising:

associating one or more individuals with a message generated by a medical infusion pump; and

following occurrence of the message in the medical infusion pump, communicating the message to the one or more individuals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message corresponds to an alarm event occurring in the medical infusion pump.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein associating one or more individuals with a message corresponds to linking message records with individual records in a database.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the database is stored in a memory of the medical infusion pump.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the database is stored in a memory of a computing system communicatively connected to the medical infusion pump.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more individuals corresponds to a predefined class of individuals.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predefined class of individuals corresponds to individuals able to log in to access settings in the medical infusion pump.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the message to the one or more individuals comprises transmitting the message to the one or more individuals via a communication medium selected from the group consisting of:

email;

cellular communication;

pager call; and

text message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more individuals are selected from the group consisting of:

physicians;

nurses;

pharmacists;

clinicians; and

patients.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the message is initiated by the medical infusion pump.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the message occurs based on a periodic request by a computing system associated with the one or more individuals.

12. A medical infusion pump comprising:

a pump mechanism;

a memory;

a programmable circuit arranged to control the pump mechanism and operatively connected to the memory, the programmable circuit programmed to;

associate one or more individuals with a message generated by a medical infusion pump; and

following occurrence of the message in the medical infusion pump, communicate the message to the one or more individuals.

13. The medical infusion pump of claim 12, wherein the message is communicated by the medical infusion pump upon occurrence of the message.

14. The medical infusion pump of claim 12, wherein the message corresponds to an alarm event occurring in the medical infusion pump.

15. The medical infusion pump of claim 12, wherein the programmable circuit is programmed to communicate the message to the one or more individuals comprises via a communication medium selected from the group consisting of:

email;

cellular communication;

pager call; and

text message.

16. The medical infusion pump of claim 12, wherein the one or more individuals are selected from the group consisting of:

physicians;

nurses;

pharmacists;

clinicians; and

patients.

17. The medical infusion pump of claim 12, wherein the one or more individuals corresponds to a predefined class of individuals.

18. The medical infusion pump of claim 17, wherein the predefined class of individuals corresponds to individuals able to log in to access settings in the medical infusion pump.

19. A system for directing messages from a medical infusion pump to one or more individuals, the system comprising:

a medical infusion pump; and

a computing system communicatively connected to the medical infusion pump;

the system arranged to execute program instructions to;

associate one or more individuals with a message generated by a medical infusion pump; and

following occurrence of the message in the medical infusion pump, communicate the message to the one or more individuals.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the computing system initiates communication of the message received from the medical infusion pump.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein communicating the message is initiated by the medical infusion pump upon occurrence of the message.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein communicating the message occurs based on a periodic request by the computing system.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the individuals are associated with the message in a database accessible to the computing system.

24. A method of tracking cost parameters relating to a medical infusion pump, the method comprising:

detecting in a medical infusion pump one or more cost-incurring events, each of the cost-incurring events relating to use of the medical infusion pump by a patient;

storing a history of the cost-incurring events in a memory; and

generating a cost summary based on the history of cost-incurring events.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein storing the history of cost-incurring events in a memory comprises storing an event log in a computing system communicatively connected to the medical infusion pump.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein storing the history of cost incurring events in a memory comprises storing an event log in a memory of the medical infusion pump.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the event log to a computing system communicatively connected to the medical infusion pump.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein generating a cost summary based on the history of cost-incurring events comprises generating a bill for use of the medical infusion pump by the patient.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the cost incurring events include events selected from the group consisting of:

cassette change events;

new drug delivery events;

total volume of fluid delivered;

elapsed time of pump operation;

battery change events;

battery usage; and

disposable usage.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising detecting in a medical infusion pump one or more corrective events, each of the corrective events relating to programming of a medical infusion pump by a caregiver.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the corrective events include events selected from the group consisting of:

pump program cancellations;

short-duration adjustments to pump settings; and

occurrences of the medical infusion pump reaching one or more soft limits.

32. The method of claim 24, further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the history of the cost-incurring events to a healthcare professional remote from the medical infusion pump.

33. A medical infusion pump comprising:

a pump mechanism;

a memory;

a programmable circuit arranged to control the pump mechanism and operatively connected to the memory, the programmable circuit programmed to;

detect in a medical infusion pump one or more cost-incurring events, each of the cost-incurring events relating to use of the medical infusion pump by a patient;

store a history of the cost-incurring events in the memory; and

generate a cost summary based on the history of cost-incurring events.

34. The medical infusion pump of claim 33, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to at least a portion of the event log to a computing system communicatively connected to the medical infusion pump.

35. The medical infusion pump of claim 33, wherein the cost-incurring events include events selected from the group consisting of:

cassette change events;

new drug delivery events;

total volume of fluid delivered;

elapsed time of pump operation;

battery change events;

battery usage; and

disposable usage.

36. The medical infusion pump of claim 33, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to detect in a medical infusion pump one or more corrective events, each of the corrective events relating to programming of a medical infusion pump by a caregiver.

37. The medical infusion pump of claim 33, wherein the corrective events include events selected from the group consisting of:

pump program cancellations;

short-duration adjustments to pump settings; and

occurrences of the medical infusion pump reaching one or more soft limits.

38. The medical infusion pump of claim 33, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to transmit at least a portion of the history of the cost-incurring events to a healthcare professional remote from the medical infusion pump.

39. A cost-tracking system for use with a medical infusion pump, the system comprising:

a computing system;

a medical infusion pump communicatively connected to the computing system, the medical infusion pump including;

a pump mechanism;

a memory;

a programmable circuit arranged to control the pump mechanism and operatively connected to the memory, the programmable circuit programmed to;

detect in a medical infusion pump one or more cost-incurring events, each of the cost-incurring events relating to use of the medical infusion pump by a patient;

store a history of the cost-incurring events; and

generate a cost summary based on the history of cost-incurring events.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the programmable circuit is programmed to store the history of the cost-incurring events in the memory of the medical infusion pump.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the programmable circuit is programmed to store the history of the cost-incurring events in a memory of the computing system.

42. The system of claim 39, further comprising a server communicatively connected to the computing system, the server configured to aggregate one or more histories of cost-incurring events from one or more medical infusion pumps.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein the programmable circuit of the medical infusion pump is further programmed to transmit at least a portion of the history of the cost-incurring events to a healthcare professional remote from the medical infusion pump.

44. The system of claim 39, wherein the programmable circuit of the medical infusion pump is further programmed to detect in a medical infusion pump one or more corrective events, each of the corrective events relating to programming of a medical infusion pump by a caregiver.

45. A method of tracking activity in a medical infusion pump, the method comprising:

detecting in a medical infusion pump one or more cost-incurring events, each of the cost-incurring events relating to use of the medical infusion pump by a patient;

detecting in a medical infusion pump one or more corrective events, each of the corrective events relating to programming of the medical infusion pump by a caregiver;

storing an event log of the cost-incurring events and the corrective events in a memory of the medical infusion pump; and

generating a cost summary based on at least a portion of the event log including one or more of the cost-incurring events.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the cost incurring events include events selected from the group consisting of:

cassette change events;

new drug delivery events;

total volume of fluid delivered;

elapsed time of pump operation;

battery change events;

battery usage; and

disposable usage.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the corrective events include events selected from the group consisting of:

pump program cancellations;

short-duration adjustments to pump settings; and

occurrences of the medical infusion pump reaching one or more soft limits.

48. A method of assessing downstream pressure in a medical infusion pump, the method comprising:

determining a downstream pressure at the end of a pump stroke in a medical infusion pump;

waiting a time period;

determining a downstream pressure at the end of the time period;

assessing the downstream pressure at the end of the time period; and

based on the assessing step, deciding whether to actuate a subsequent pump stroke.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein waiting a predetermined time includes monitoring the downstream pressure over the time period.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising determining that a delayed downstream pressure assessment is selected in the medical pump.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein assessing the downstream pressure at the end of the time period includes determining that the downstream pressure is below a maximum downstream pressure by at least a threshold amount.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising actuating a subsequent pump stroke.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein assessing the downstream pressure at the end of the time period includes determining that the downstream pressure is below a maximum downstream pressure by at least a threshold amount.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising delaying a subsequent pump stroke at least until the downstream pressure is below a maximum downstream pressure by the threshold amount.

55. The method of claim 53, further comprising cancelling a subsequent pump stroke.

56. The method of claim 48, wherein the time period is a predetermined time.

57. The method of claim 48, wherein the time period is adaptively determined based on a rate of decrease of downstream pressure from the medical infusion pump.

58. The method of claim 48, wherein the time period is user-adjustable.

59. The method of claim 48, further comprising, upon elapsing of a second time period in the absence of a pump stroke, triggering a downstream occlusion detection alarm.

60. A medical infusion pump configured for management of fluid pressure decay, the medical infusion pump comprising:

a pump mechanism configured to actuate pump strokes to deliver fluids to a patient;

a memory;

a programmable circuit arranged to control the pump mechanism and operatively connected to the memory, the programmable circuit programmed to;

determine a downstream pressure at the end of a pump stroke of the pump mechanism;

wait a time period;

determine a downstream pressure at the end of the time period;

assess the downstream pressure at the end of the time period; and

based on the assessment, decide whether to actuate a subsequent pump stroke via the pump mechanism.

61. The medical infusion pump of claim 60, wherein waiting a predetermined time includes monitoring the downstream pressure over the time period.

62. The medical infusion pump of claim 60, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to, upon determining the downstream pressure is below a maximum downstream pressure by at least a threshold amount, actuating a subsequent pump stroke.

63. The medical infusion pump of claim 60, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to, upon determining that the downstream pressure is not below a maximum downstream pressure by at least a threshold amount, delaying a subsequent pump stroke at least until the downstream pressure is below a maximum downstream pressure by the threshold amount.

64. The medical infusion pump of claim 60, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to, upon determining that the downstream pressure is not below a maximum downstream pressure by at least a threshold amount, cancelling a subsequent pump stroke.

65. A method of assessing downstream pressure in a medical infusion pump, the method comprising:

actuating a first stroke of a pump mechanism in a medical infusion pump;

determining a downstream pressure at the end of the pump stroke;

waiting a time period;

determining a downstream pressure at the end of the time period;

delaying a subsequent pump stroke at least until the downstream pressure is below a maximum downstream pressure by the threshold amount; and

actuating a subsequent pump stroke.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the time period is adaptively determined based on a rate of decrease of downstream pressure from the medical infusion pump.

67. The method of claim 65, further comprising, upon elapsing of a second time period in the absence of a pump stroke, triggering a downstream occlusion detection alarm.

68. A method of delivering a fluid from a medical infusion pump, the method comprising:

delivering fluid from the medical infusion pump until a downstream pressure reaches a high pressure limit;

upon reaching the high pressure limit, pausing delivery of fluid for a time period; and

upon elapsing of the time period, delivering additional fluid from the medical infusion pump.

69. The method of claim 68, further comprising, upon elapsing of the time period, determining whether the downstream pressure remains at the high pressure limit.

70. The method of claim 69, further comprising, upon determining whether the downstream pressure remains at the high pressure limit, pausing delivery of fluid for a second time period.

71. The method of claim 68, further comprising, upon elapsing of the time period, determining whether the downstream pressure remains within a predetermined threshold of the high pressure limit.

72. The method of claim 71, further comprising, upon determining whether the downstream pressure remains within a predetermined threshold of the high pressure limit, pausing delivery of fluid for a second time period.

73. The method of claim 68, wherein the time period is adaptively determined by a rate of decrease of pressure downstream of the medical infusion pump.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the time period is adaptively determined by a rate of decrease of pressure downstream of the medical infusion pump during a preceding pump stroke.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein the time period is adaptively determined by a rate of decrease of pressure downstream of the medical infusion pump during a preceding number of pump strokes.

76. The method of claim 68, wherein the time period is a predetermined time period.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the predetermined time period is adjustable.

78. The method of claim 68, wherein the medical infusion pump delivers a maximum volume of fluid over a minimized length of time.

79. The method of claim 68, wherein delivering fluid from the medical infusion pump includes initiating one or more pump strokes of a pump mechanism.

80. A medical infusion pump comprising:

a pump mechanism;

a memory;

a programmable circuit arranged to control the pump mechanism and operatively connected to the memory, the programmable circuit programmed to;

deliver fluid via the pump mechanism until a downstream pressure reaches a high pressure limit;

upon reaching a high pressure limit, pause delivery of fluid for a time period; and

upon elapsing of the time period, resume delivery of fluid via the pump mechanism.

81. The pump of claim 80, wherein the pump mechanism delivers one or more pump strokes to deliver fluid.

82. The pump of claim 80, wherein the time period is adaptively determined by a rate of decrease of pressure downstream of the medical infusion pump during a preceding pump stroke.

83. The pump of claim 80, wherein the time period is a predetermined time period.

84. The pump of claim 83, wherein the predetermined time period is adjustable based on settings stored in the memory.

85. The pump of claim 80, wherein the medical infusion pump delivers a maximum volume of fluid over a minimized length of time.

86. A method of delivering a fluid from a medical infusion pump, the method comprising:

initiating one or more strokes of a pump mechanism for delivering fluid from the medical infusion pump until a downstream pressure reaches a high pressure limit;

upon reaching the high pressure limit, pausing delivery of fluid for a predetermined time;

upon elapsing of the predetermined time, determining whether the downstream pressure remains within a predetermined threshold of the high pressure limit; and

upon determining that the downstream pressure is outside of the predetermined threshold, initiating one or more additional strokes of the pump mechanism for delivering additional fluid from the medical infusion pump;

wherein the medical infusion pump delivers a maximum volume of fluid over a minimized length of time.

87. The method of claim 86, further comprising, upon determining whether the downstream pressure remains within a predetermined threshold of the high pressure limit, pausing delivery of fluid for a second time period.

88. The method of claim 86, wherein the predetermined time period is adjustable based on settings stored in the memory.

89. A method of generating alarms in a medical infusion pump, the method comprising:

determining a severity of an alarm based on an alarm event;

selecting an alarm level from among a plurality of alarm levels based on an alarm level criteria, each alarm level corresponding to a different target group to be notified by the alarm; and

activating the alarm in accordance with the selected alarm level.

90. The method of claim 89, further comprising:

maintaining activation of the alarm for a predetermined time;

if the alarm event is not addressed during the predetermined time, selecting a second alarm level from among the plurality of alarm levels; and

activating the alarm in accordance with the second alarm level.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein the second alarm level corresponds to a target group that is a superset of a target group associated with the alarm level.

92. The method of claim 89, wherein the alarm levels are selected from a range of settings consisting of:

alarm volumes;

alarm sounds;

alarm duty cycle;

alarm target locations; and

color schemes.

93. The method of claim 89, wherein the alarm level criteria are selected from the group consisting of:

duration of the alarm event;

significance of the alarm event; and

time of day.

94. The method of claim 89, wherein alarm events are selected from a group consisting of:

informational alarm events;

high importance alarm events;

pump faults;

battery warnings;

low fluid warnings;

damage warnings; and

messages.

95. The method of claim 89, wherein target groups are selected from a group consisting of:

healthcare providers within a close proximity to the medical infusion pump;

a patient associated with the medical infusion pump;

nurses attending to the patient;

doctors attending to the patient;

pharmacists providing fluidic drugs administered by the medical infusion pump; and

technicians.

96. The method of claim 89, further comprising prioritizing one or more alarm events based on a severity of each alarm event.

97. A medical infusion pump comprising:

a pump mechanism;

a memory;

a programmable circuit arranged to control the pump mechanism and operatively connected to the memory, the programmable circuit programmed to;

determine a severity of an alarm based on an alarm event;

select an alarm level from among a plurality of alarm levels based on an alarm level criteria, each alarm level corresponding to a different target group to be notified by the alarm; and

activate the alarm in accordance with the selected alarm level.

98. The medical infusion pump of claim 97, wherein the alarm events are selected from a group consisting of:

informational alarm events;

high importance alarm events;

pump faults;

battery warnings;

low fluid warnings;

damage warnings; and

messages.

99. The medical infusion pump of claim 97, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to allow a user to associate an alarm event with one or more alarm levels.

100. The medical infusion pump of claim 97, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to allow a user to associate an alarm event with a target group.

101. The medical infusion pump of claim 97, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to allow a user to associate an alarm level with one or more target groups.

102. The medical infusion pump of claim 97, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to allow a user to define one or more themes, each theme associating one or more alarm events with corresponding alarm levels.

103. The medical infusion pump of claim 97, wherein the programmable circuit is further programmed to prioritize one or more alarm events based on a severity of each alarm event.

104. The medical infusion pump of claim 97, wherein the alarm levels are selected from a range of settings consisting of:

alarm volumes;

alarm sounds;

alarm duty cycle;

alarm target locations; and

color schemes.

105. The medical infusion pump of claim 97, wherein target groups are selected from a group consisting of:

healthcare providers within a close proximity to the medical infusion pump;

a patient associated with the medical infusion pump;

nurses attending to the patient;

doctors attending to the patient;

pharmacists providing fluidic drugs administered by the medical infusion pump; and

technicians.

106. A method of generating alarms in a medical infusion pump, the method comprising:

determining a severity of an alarm based on an alarm event;

selecting an alarm level from among a plurality of alarm levels based on an alarm level criteria, each alarm level corresponding to a different target group to be notified by the alarm;

activating the alarm in accordance with the selected alarm level;

maintaining activation of the alarm for a predetermined time;

if the alarm event is not addressed during the predetermined time, selecting a second alarm level from among the plurality of alarm levels; and

activating the alarm in accordance with the second alarm level.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein the alarm levels are selected from a range of settings consisting of:

alarm volumes;

alarm sounds;

alarm duty cycle;

alarm target locations; and

color schemes.

108. The method of claim 106, wherein target groups are selected from a group consisting of:

healthcare providers within a close proximity to the medical infusion pump;

a patient associated with the medical infusion pump;

nurses attending to the patient;

doctors attending to the patient;

pharmacists providing fluidic drugs administered by the medical infusion pump; and

technicians.