HOLOGRAPHIC OCCLUSION DETECTION SYSTEM FOR INFUSION PUMPS

• US 20110137240A1
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Wiegel, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,287,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16868 Downstream occlusion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 used specific wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure

Abstract

A holographic occlusion detection system has a white-light holographic label placed onto a sensing portion or surface of a pressure sensor connected to infusion tubing. The pressure sensor at the sensing portion can have a relatively thin wall section and may be wider and flatter than a normal cross section of the infusion tubing. The label is then illuminated by a polychromatic light source, and the light reflected off the holographic label is then received by a photodetector. Pressure changes within the tubing cause a change in orientation of the white-light holographic label, thereby resulting in a shift in the peak wavelength of the reflective light sensed by the photodetector. This shift in wavelength can then be calibrated to the swelling of the sensing portion so that pressure within the infusion line can be calculated. In another variation, monochromatic light is reflected off a holographic label, and pressure changes are detected by measuring the amplitude of the reflected light.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a sensor having a sensing portion configured to deform as pressure changes inside the sensor;

a holographic label affixed to the sensing portion of the sensor, the holographic label being deformable to deform with the sensing portion as the pressure changes inside the sensor;

a light source configured to shine light onto the holographic label; and

a photodetector oriented to detect the light reflected from the holographic label.

2. The system of claim 1, in which the sensor has a holographic label wall at the sensing portion that has a wall thickness that differs from the rest of the sensor, the holographic label being attached at the holographic label wall.

3. The system of claim 2, in which the sensing portion is flat.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

tubing configured to transport fluid to the sensor; and

the sensing portion being wider than the tubing.

5. The system of claim 1, in which the holographic label has a unique optical signature that differentiates the sensor from other types of similarly constructed sensors.

6. The system of claim 5, in which the unique optical signature includes orientation of diffraction grating lines of the holographic label.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a delivery device configured to deliver fluid to a patient;

an infusion pump configured to pump fluid to the delivery device, the infusion pump being operatively coupled to the photodetector;

tubing configured to transport the fluid from the infusion pump to the delivery device, the sensor being disposed along the tubing to sense the pressure of the fluid in the tubing; and

the infusion pump being configured to determine the pressure of the fluid in the tubing based on the properties of the light reflected off the holographic label detected with the photodetector.

8. The system of claim 1, in which the holographic label has diffraction grating lines oriented transverse relative to the light source and the photodetector.

9. The system of claim 8, in which the holographic label has diffraction grating lines oriented perpendicular to the light source and the photodetector.

10. The system of claim 1, in which the sensor has a cylindrical shape.

11. The system of claim 10, in which the holographic label wraps completely around the sensor.

12. The system of claim 11, in which the holographic label includes diffraction grating lines that are orientated to create a series of rings around the sensor.

13. The system of claim 10, in which the holographic label includes diffraction grating lines that extend parallel to a fluid flow path in the sensor.

14. The system of claim 1, in which the light from the light source is polychromatic light.

15. The system of claim 14, in which the photodetector is configured to detect color changes of the light reflected from the holographic label as the holographic label deforms, the color changes being indicative of the pressure changes.

16. The system of claim 14, in which the holographic label includes diffraction grating lines being linearly gapped to linearly affect frequency of the light reflected from the holographic label.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the light configured to shine from the light source is polychromatic light;

tubing configured to transport fluid to the sensor;

the sensing portion being wider than the tubing;

a delivery device configured to deliver fluid to a patient;

an infusion pump configured to pump fluid to the delivery device, the infusion pump being operatively coupled to the photodetector;

tubing configured to transport the fluid from the infusion pump to the delivery device, the sensor being disposed along the tubing to sense the pressure of the fluid in the tubing;

the infusion pump being configured to determine the pressure of the fluid in the tubing based on the properties of the light reflected off the holographic detected with the photodetector;

the sensor having a holographic label wall at the sensing portion that is thinner than the rest of the sensor, the holographic label being attached at the holographic label wall;

the holographic label having diffraction grating lines oriented transverse to the light source and the photodetector;

the holographic label including diffraction grating lines being linearly gapped to linearly affect frequency of the light reflected from the holographic label;

the photodetector being configured to detect color changes of the light reflected from the holographic label as the holographic label deforms, the color changes being indicative of the pressure changes; and

the holographic label having a unique optical signature that differentiates the sensor from other types of sensors.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the light from the light source is monochromatic light;

tubing configured to transport fluid to the sensor;

the sensing portion being wider than the tubing;

a delivery device configured to deliver fluid to a patient;

an infusion pump configured to pump fluid to the delivery device, the infusion pump being operatively coupled to the photodetector;

tubing configured to transport the fluid from the infusion pump to the delivery device, the sensor being disposed along the tubing to sense the pressure of the fluid in the tubing;

the infusion pump being configured to determine the pressure of the fluid in the tubing based on the properties of the light reflected off the holographic label detected with the photodetector;

the sensor having a holographic label wall at the sensing portion that is thinner than the rest of the sensor, the holographic label being attached at the holographic label wall;

the holographic label having diffraction grating lines oriented transverse to the light source and the photodetector;

the holographic label including diffraction grating lines being linearly gapped to linearly affect frequency of the light reflected from the holographic label;

a light source configured to shine polychromatic light onto the holographic label;

the photodetector being configured to detect changes in amplitude of the monochromatic light reflected from the holographic label as the holographic label deforms, the color changes being indicative of the pressure changes; and

the holographic label having a unique optical signature that differentiates the sensor from other types of sensors.

19. A method, comprising:

detecting light reflected off a holographic label disposed on a pressure sensor that deforms as pressure changes inside the pressure sensor; and

determining the pressure inside the pressure sensor based on a property of the light reflected off the holographic label.

20. The method of claim 19, in which said determining the pressure comprises detecting changes in peak wavelength of the light reflected off the holographic label.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

wherein the holographic label has an optical signature;

detecting that an incorrect pressure sensor is being used based on the optical signature; and

generating an alert based on said detecting.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising calibrating pressure readings based on the optical signature.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

shining polychromatic light onto the holographic label, wherein the holographic label includes diffraction grating lines being uniformly spaced to linearly affect frequency of the light reflected from the holographic label; and

said determining the pressure inside the pressure sensor includes measuring the frequency of the light reflected from the holographic label.

24. The method of claim 19, in which said determining the pressure comprises detecting changes in amplitude of the light reflected off the holographic label.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

shining monochromatic light onto the holographic label, wherein the holographic label includes diffraction grating lines being uniformly spaced to linearly affect the intensity of the light reflected from the holographic label; and

said determining the pressure inside the pressure sensor includes measuring the intensity of the light reflected from the holographic label.