INFUSION MONITORING ALARM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND ALARMING FOR INTRAVENOUS INFUSION

• US 20120098668A1
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peng Chen
• Original Assignee: Peng Chen
• Inventors: LI, Yimin
• Application Number:
  US13/279,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20120098668A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/657
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/16863 Occlusion detection
• 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: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure

Abstract

An infusion monitoring alarm is attached to an infusion tube between a solution bottle and a dripping chamber, including a clamping piece; at least two polar plates forming a capacitor; a capacitance measurement unit configured to measure a capacitance of the capacitor; a micro control unit configured to collect data from the capacitance measure unit and generate a warning signal when the capacitance value of the capacitor decreases beyond a predetermined threshold value and a power supply circuit configured to provide electricity. A method for monitoring and alarming for intravenous infusion includes developing a baseline value of a capacitor at an initiation of the infusion procedure; determining a current value of a capacitor and comparing the current value of a capacitor with the baseline value; and sending out a signal for alarming when current value of the capacitor decreases beyond a predetermined percentage of the baseline value of the capacitor.

Claims

1. An infusion monitoring alarm, attached to an infusion tube between a solution bottle and a dripping chamber, comprising:

a clamping piece;

at least two polar plates forming a capacitor, wherein the at least two polar plates are spaced to accommodate the infusion tube;

a capacitance measurement unit configured to measure a capacitance of the capacitor, wherein the capacitance measurement unit is electrically connected to the capacitor and the capacitance measurement unit is an integrated circuit specially designed for capacitance measurement;

a micro control unit (MCU) configured to collect data from the capacitance measure unit and generate a warning signal when the capacitance value of the capacitor decreases beyond a predetermined threshold value, wherein the MCU is electrically connected to the capacitance measurement unit;

a power supply circuit configured to provide electricity, the power supply circuit including a power supply and a micro swift; and

an alarm piece configured to send an alarm based on the warning signal, wherein the alarm piece is electrically connected to the MCU.

2. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold value is ninety percent of a baseline capacitance value.

3. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 1, wherein the power supply is a button cell battery.

4. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 1, wherein the MCU is programmed with a wake-up function and is programmed to periodically operate to help conserve battery life.

5. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 1, wherein the alarm piece is a signaling device selected from the group consisting of a buzzer, light-emitting diode, wired network, and a wireless network.

6. An infusion monitoring alarm, comprising:

a clamping piece;

at least two polar plates forming a capacitor, wherein the at least two polar plates are spaced to accommodate an infusion tube;

a capacitance measurement unit configured to measure a capacitance of the capacitor, wherein the capacitance measurement unit is electrically connected to the capacitor;

a micro control unit (MCU) configured to collect data from the capacitance measure unit and generate a warning signal when the capacitance value of the capacitor decreases beyond a predetermined threshold value, wherein the MCU is electrically connected to the capacitance measurement unit;

a power supply circuit configured to provide electricity; and

an alarm piece configured to send an alarm based on the warning signal, wherein the alarm piece is electrically connected to the MCU.

7. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 6, wherein the predetermined threshold value is ninety percent of a baseline capacitance value.

8. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 6, wherein the capacitance measurement unit is an integrated circuit specially designed for capacitance measurement.

9. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 6, wherein the capacitance measurement unit is a resonant (LC) circuit and the capacitance is measured by equation:

10. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 6, wherein the capacitance measurement unit is a resistor-capacitor (RC) charging circuit and the capacitance is measured by equation:

11. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 6, wherein the alarming circuit and the alarm piece are located within the clamping piece.

12. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 6, wherein the MCU generates a warning signal when an infusion irregularity occurs and the infusion irregularity selects from the group consisting of an irregularity of infusion rate, a blockage in the infusion tube and air bubbles trapped in the infusion tube.

13. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 6, wherein the MCU is programmed with a wake-up function and is programmed to periodically operate to help conserve battery life.

14. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 6, wherein the power supply circuit further includes a power supply and a micro switch configured to control the power supply.

15. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 14, wherein the power supply is a button cell battery.

16. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 6, wherein the alarm piece is a signaling device selected from the group consisting of a buzzer, light-emitting diode, wired network, and a wireless network.

17. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 6, wherein the distance between the two plates matches a diameter of the infusion tube.

18. The infusion monitoring alarm described in claim 6, wherein the shape of the clamping piece selects from the group consisting of a rectangular box, heart, and butterfly.

19. A method for monitoring and alarming for intravenous infusion, comprising the steps of:

developing a baseline value of a capacitor at an initiation of the infusion procedure;

determining a current value of a capacitor and comparing the current value of a capacitor with the baseline value; and

sending out a signal for alarming when current value of the capacitor decreases beyond a predetermined percentage of the baseline value of the capacitor.

20. The method described in claim 19, wherein the value of a capacitor is calculated by an integrated circuit specially designed for capacitance measurement.