FLUID DETECTION IN AN ENTERAL FEEDING SET
First Claim
1. A system for detecting fluid in a feeding tube, said system comprising:
- a light source transmitting an infrared light through the feeding tube and any fluid therein;
an infrared intensity sensor sensing an intensity of the infrared light transmitted through the feeding tube and through any fluid therein and generating an output signal having a variable frequency, wherein the frequency of the output signal is a function of the sensed intensity of the infrared light transmitted through the feeding tube; and
a processor receiving the generated output signal and determining the frequency of the generated output signal, and wherein said processor is configured to determine whether fluid is in the feeding tube as a function of the determined frequency.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Detection of fluid conditions in an administration set. A light source is positioned to transmit an infrared light through administration set tubing and any fluid therein. A light sensor senses the infrared light transmitted through the tubing and generates an output signal. A frequency of the output signal is a function of an intensity of the light transmitted through the tubing. A processor receives and determines the frequency of the output signal, and compares the determined frequency to threshold frequency values to determine whether fluid is in the tubing. The processor also monitors the generated output signal to determine if the frequency of the output signal changes over time, and determines whether fluid is flowing in the tubing as a function of the determined change in frequency.
69 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A system for detecting fluid in a feeding tube, said system comprising:
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a light source transmitting an infrared light through the feeding tube and any fluid therein; an infrared intensity sensor sensing an intensity of the infrared light transmitted through the feeding tube and through any fluid therein and generating an output signal having a variable frequency, wherein the frequency of the output signal is a function of the sensed intensity of the infrared light transmitted through the feeding tube; and a processor receiving the generated output signal and determining the frequency of the generated output signal, and wherein said processor is configured to determine whether fluid is in the feeding tube as a function of the determined frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for detecting fluid flow in a section of tubing of an administration set, said system comprising:
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a pump having a motor for pumping the fluid through the tubing; a light source positioned adjacent the tubing for transmitting an infrared light through the tubing and any fluid therein; an infrared sensor positioned adjacent to the tubing for sensing an intensity of the transmitted infrared light and for generating an output signal having a variable frequency, wherein said frequency of the output signal is a function of the sensed intensity of the infrared light transmitted through the tubing; and a processor receiving the generated output signal and determining a change in the frequency of the generated output signal over a predetermined period of time, and wherein said processor is configured to determine whether fluid is flowing in the tubing as a function of the determined change in frequency. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for detecting fluid in a feeding tube, said method comprising:
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transmitting an infrared light through the feeding tube and any fluid therein; sensing an intensity of the infrared light transmitted through the feeding tube and through any fluid therein; generating an output signal having a variable frequency, wherein said frequency of the output signal is a function of the sensed intensity of the infrared light transmitted through the feeding tube; determining the frequency of the generated output signal; and determining whether fluid is in the feeding tube by comparing the determined frequency of the generated output signal to one or more threshold frequency ranges stored in a memory. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A pumping apparatus for administering a fluid to a patient via a pump set loaded in the pumping apparatus, said pump set comprising tubing in fluid connection with a fluid source, said pumping apparatus comprising:
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a pump for controlling fluid flow in the pump set, said pump being adapted for delivering fluid from the fluid source to the patient via the tubing of the pump set; a light source for transmitting an infrared light through a portion of the tubing and any fluid therein when the pump set is loaded in the pumping apparatus; an infrared intensity sensor responsive to the infrared light transmitted through the tubing and through any fluid therein for generating a variable frequency output signal, said frequency of the output signal being a function of an intensity of the sensed infrared light transmitted through the feeding tube and any fluid therein; and a processor receiving and responsive to the output signal for determining a fluid condition in the tubing as a function of the frequency of the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification